Donors ‘stuffs the bus’

As area schools swing into a new year, some students might find themselves struggling to keep up because they don’t have the proper supplies.

That’s why the United Way of Greater Chattanooga teamed with the Chattanooga Market on Sunday to host the organization’s first “Stuff the Bus” event. The goal, organizers said, was to fill a school bus outside the market to capacity with school supplies for children who need them.

United Way Campaign Chairman Bill Stacy said he was excited that the donations had “filled the bus” by 3 p.m.

“Chattanoogans are real generous,” he said. “They see a need and they’ll help you.”

All the school supplies imaginable — bookbags and notebooks, stacks of paper, boxes filled with glue, pencils and scissors — lined the bus, awaiting to be delivered to children who will us them.

Stacy said the donations are for all school systems in the area. Pick-up locations will be announced Tuesday. Starting Aug. 30, people can call 211 for the locations.

The United Way of Greater Chattanooga had been gathering supplies for about two months, said Wayne Collins, vice president of marketing. Sunday’s event contributed about $5,000 worth of supplies to the effort, he said.

But, he emphasized, more donations are needed.

“Anything you can think of that’s a school supply, we need,” Collins said.

The box of supplies East Brainerd resident Nancy Owens donated Sunday was packed with folders, pencils, erasers and more.

Owens said she made her donations because school supplies can get rather pricey, “especially for people who have multiple children.”

“I work hard, but there are plenty of people out there working just as hard who don’t have the privileges that I do,” she said. “What you give today might come back tomorrow.”

Online: Read previous stories about the Chattanooga Market.