Stuff the Bus at Chattanooga Market

The staff and volunteers of United Way of Greater Chattanooga are asking for your help Sunday to fill a school bus with donations of new school supplies at Chattanooga Market.

Kelley Nave, director of public relations for United Way, said this will be the third year for the school drive, which benefits the Hamilton County PTA Teacher Supply Depot. The depot is a resource for any Hamilton County schoolteacher, who is a PTA member, to supplement classroom supplies for free.

"In 2010, we collected $10,000 in school supplies," Nave said. "Last year, we collected $15,000 in school supplies. This year, with all the partnerships we're working on, our goal is to collect $40,000 in school supplies."

Nave said the supply depot was chosen as the drive's beneficiary because "we wanted someplace that all teachers had access to equally, and we think teachers are the best distribution because they know which students in their classes have needs."

Sunday's Stuff the Bus campaign is the highlight of a supply drive that continues until Oct. 31. Marketgoers are asked to bring new pencils, crayons, rulers, glue sticks, notebook paper, even backpacks if possible.

In addition to the drive, United Way has planned a family event during market hours that includes children's games, arts, crafts and healthy activities in which all ages may participate. More than a dozen United Way agencies will have booths set up in the market.

Parents may sign their toddlers up for free books and learning checkups. Every child who completes a learning checkup at the market Sunday will receive a free family pass for up to six to the Creative Discovery Museum.