Stuff the Desk serves 885 students in 2026

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Thanks to hundreds of donors and volunteers, 885 local students will begin the academic year with essential school supplies provided through Stuff the Bus and Stuff the Desk events. On August 6, community members donated over 13,000 school supplies at the Stuff the Bus event, and on August 14 and 15, the items were distributed to students who registered to receive supplies.
2026 statistics
Of the students served, 96% qualified for free or reduced school meals. Ninety-five volunteers lent a hand during collection, set up, pre-packing and distribution.
Some of the items collected during Stuff the Bus include 949 backpacks; 1,061 boxes of colored pencils; 3,506 folders; 919 glue sticks; 2,458 notebooks; 635 scissors; 40 rulers; 1,331 boxes of crayons and 1,003 boxes of markers.
The Stuff the Bus Committee extends its thanks to everyone who helped to make this possible: the volunteers, the organizations who held school supply drives and everyone who donated school supplies and monetary donations. Thanks to the community effort, almost 900 students have school supplies to help them start the school year off on the right track.
About the Stuff the Bus/Stuff the Desk Committee
Stuff the Bus is a collaborative effort of several local non-profit, government and school agencies. Every year, the Stuff the Bus/Stuff the Desk Committee asks the community to donate school supplies at the Stuff the Bus event. Later, the donated school supplies are distributed to local students in need during the Stuff the Desk event. All families who are in financial need are eligible.