Stuff the Bus Needs You to Help Local Children - What We Raise Here Stays Here

United Way’s Stuff the Bus Program Needs You to Help Local Children

August 3, 2021 – For Immediate Release

Stuff the Bus is an annual program run by United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk that provides school supplies to children in need. The program supports over 600 children and youth annually. United Way is requesting community support to donate school supplies for the program. Requested items include backpacks, markers, crayons, pencils, erasers, calculators, glue sticks, and more. Supplies will be collected up until August 20^th.

Donated supplies can be dropped off in Haldimand at Don Hyde Marine (4075 Highway 6, Hagersville), and True Experience (201 Forest Street East, Dunnville) or in Norfolk at FirstOntario Credit Union (107 Queensway East, Simcoe), Simcoe Natural Foods (479 Queensway West, Simcoe), Barry Malcolm CFP (71 Thompson Road, Waterford) and Norfolk Community Help Centre (505 Fairground Road, Langton). If you wish to donate and are unable to access the drop-off locations, reach out to United Way at [email protected].

Family members that are interested in receiving supplies from the Stuff the Bus program are encouraged to contact their children’s schools to let them know they would like to participate. United Way sorts the supplies and drops them off directly at the schools one week prior to the start of the school year, allowing families to pick up the supplies beforehand. All schools in the Grand Erie District School Board and Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board have access to the program. Families attending other schools should contact United Way directly.

“It has been a very challenging year for students trying to learn during the pandemic,” states Brittany Burley, Executive Director of United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk. “While there is still uncertainty about what the next school year looks like, we do know that the children in our community are still going to need school supplies, whether they are attending school in-person or online. Our community has been incredibly supportive of the Stuff the Bus program over the years, and we hope that we can count on that continued support.”

Stuff the Bus is running for its fourth year in Haldimand and Norfolk. Due to the success of the program, Brant United Way is partnering with United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk to expand Stuff the Bus across schools in Brant County and Brantford. Brant United Way will be doing separate fundraising. All supplies donated in Haldimand and Norfolk will stay in Haldimand and Norfolk.

In regards to the new partnership, Daniel Rankin, Executive Director of Brant United Way, stated, “Brant United Way is excited to partner on the Stuff the Bus program. In working with United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk, we can ensure that all of the students at Grand Erie District School Board and Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board have an equal opportunity to access support.”

If you would like to collect supplies for Stuff the Bus as a workplace or a community group, please contact United Way directly for more information at [email protected]. Cash donations are gratefully accepted at www.unitedwayhn.on.ca. To direct your funds to the Stuff the Bus program, write “Stuff the Bus” in the comments section when making your donation.