After a successful debut before the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year, Beaufort County Schools’ Stuff the Bus campaign returns for a second year.
The second-annual Stuff the Bus event is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 6 adjacent to the Washington Wal-Mart.
“Help us Stuff the Bus with school supplies so every child in our county will have the back to school materials they need to succeed,” proclaims a flier publicizing the event.
“The Stuff the Bus campaign allows us to serve needy students by providing school supplies as the school year begins. The campaign allows any community member to participate at any level, with all donations of school supplies being put in the hands of Beaufort County students,” said BCS Superintendent Don Phipps.
“The benefit to the students who receive the supplies is obvious. For their families, it helps lighten the financial load associated with going back to school and all that surrounds a new school year,” Phipps said. “For those who are donating school supplies, it provides an opportunity to help others in a real and immediate way.”
Phipps noted that donations range widely and come from many sources.
“Last year, we saw donations of items that ranged from a few glue sticks or a pack of paper to boxes of notebooks and book bags, all accepted with genuine appreciation. Donations came from individuals and groups. Area churches collected items and donated them, some have done this for years and last year combined their efforts with our Stuff the Bus campaign. Collectively, all who contributed helped students prepare for back to school with essential items that they may have otherwise not had,” Phipps said.
The campaign is effective, he noted.
“The power of the Stuff the Bus campaign is evident when you look at the faces of the individuals bringing donated items as well as the faces of the students receiving them. The generosity shown last year allowed us to help more than 550 students. On behalf of our students who will receive Stuff the Bus items and their families, we thank you in advance for helping us in this way,” Phipps said.

Stuff the Bus campaign
recommended items
Pencils and erasers
Pens
Scissors
Crayons
Glue sticks
Notebook paper
Folders
Spiral notebooks
Headphones
Hand sanitizer
Back packs (no wheels)
Pencil bags/boxes
Sandwich bags (all sizes)
Tissues
Rulers
Highlighters
Three-ring binders
Colored pencils