x
Breaking News
More () »

STUFF THE BUS: Collecting supplies to help teachers on the First Coast

The supplies collected during Stuff the Bus will be distributed to teachers in these schools for students in need.

Click here if you'd like to donate

It's that time of year again -- time for Stuff the Bus!

First Coast News is once again partnering with United Way of Northeast Florida to collect school supplies for Full Service Schools. Eight Full Service Schools Family Resource Centers located throughout Jacksonville support 87 schools and 57,000 students. 

The supplies collected during Stuff the Bus will be distributed to teachers in these schools for students in need.

The Stuff the Bus Business Challenge is on! 

Officially kicking off on Monday, July 1 until the Stuff the Bus event in August, we encourage groups to have their own internal drives – businesses, organizations, church groups, etc. – as a friendly competition. Then, we welcome these groups to bring the items to The Markets at Town Center on Friday, Aug. 2, anytime 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to stuff the bus! 

You can also drop off school supplies at any Chick-fil-A and Community First Credit Union in Jacksonville until Aug. 1.

Sign up or volunteer >> click here

When is the event?

Friday, Aug. 2 at the Markets at Town Center. The first 100 people to arrive get a free Monster Jam ticket!

Why should you donate?

More than a third of Northeast Florida residents live in poverty or at the brink of poverty. Our goal is to collect essential school supplies so students in need can achieve greater academic success and their families can be more financially stable. 

Thousands of children in Jacksonville start the school year without the tools they need to succeed. Teachers also often reach into their own pockets, spending on average $600 of their own money annually. These school supplies will be a critical resource for both students and teachers.

What should you collect? 

Anything you would purchase for your own child is recommended, but it’s important to remember to consider children of all ages (kindergarten through high school). See the 2019 list of suggested items below.

How can I donate monetarily? 

You can donate money online by texting “classroom” to 30306. You can also donate by visiting the Stuff the Bus webpage.

Click here if you'd like to donate

More complete suggested donation list:

  • 3×5 index cards 
  • 3-ring binders (1/2- and 1-inch) 
  • Calculators (regular and graphing) 
  • Clear or mesh backpacks 
  • Compasses Composition books 
  • Crayons 
  • Dividers 
  • Erasers 
  • Flash drives 
  • Glue sticks/bottles 
  • Graph paper 
  • Hand sanitizer 
  • Headphones 
  • Highlighters 
  • Loose-leaf notebook paper 
  • Lunch boxes 
  • Markers 
  • Pencil pouches 
  • Pencils 
  • Pens (red, black and blue) 
  • Planners 
  • Plastic zip bags 
  • Pocket folders 
  • Post it notes 
  • Protractors Rulers 
  • Scissors 
  • Spiral notebooks 
  • Tissues

Before You Leave, Check This Out