For the City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The Stuff the School Bus / Stuff the Desk events in 2017 served a total of 787 students, compared to 653 students in 2016.  The Stuff the School Bus Committee is thrilled with the results and happy to have reached more students in need this year.

Stuff the School Bus took place Aug. 3, 2017 at Witter Field.  Stuff the Desk was on Aug. 19 at Lincoln High School.

2017 Statistics:

• A sampling of some of the items collected during Stuff the School Bus include:  509 notebooks; 218 backpacks; 50 binders; 55 calculators; 1,152 folders; 408 glue sticks; 110 packs of loose leaf paper; 203 rulers; 178 scissors; and 172 school boxes.
• Of the 787 students served, 769 qualified for free or reduced school meals.
• Of the 787 students served, 23 were considered homeless (in a shelter or temporary foster care; in a motel, car or campsite; in transitional housing; with another family due to loss of housing or as a result of economic hardship; with friends or family members other than a parent/guardian; or a student living in own apartment or home).
• A total of 85 volunteers lent a hand during collection, set up, pre-packing and distribution.

All remaining school supplies were distributed to each school in Wisconsin Rapids, Nekoosa and Port Edwards.  If you missed Stuff the Desk and your student needs school supplies, talk to your school counselor or social worker.

The Stuff the School Bus Committee would like to thank everyone who helped to make this possible:

“The volunteers, the organizations who held school supply drives, and the individuals and organizations who donated school supplies and cash donations. We’d also like to thank our local media who helped to promote these events.  Thanks to everyone working together, we made an impact on the lives of local students in need.”