It's More Than A Backpack

School Supply Donation Drive: July 1- August 1st

When a student walks into the classroom with the school supplies they need, they can focus on what really matters - learning! The Santa Cruz County Office of Education and United Way of Santa Cruz County share the goal of wanting local students to go to school confident and ready to learn!

The County Office of Education estimates that over 2,800 K-12 students are currently experiencing homelessness or extreme hardship in Santa Cruz County.

This year's Stuff The Bus aims to fill over 2,800 backpacks with new school supplies for each student in time for the upcoming school year! Join us and send students back to school with the tools they need to succeed as we promote learning, encourage positive self-esteem, and ensure youth stay in school.

GET INVOLVED

Corporate Sponsorship

This a unique way to engage local businesses by offering pop-up buses for display in your office to host a school supply drive and donating pre-filled backpacks. Throughout June and July, we are reaching out to local businesses and individuals to be a sponsor for Stuff the Bus. Download our sponsorship table here to sign up to be a sponsor. Questions? email campaign@unitedwaysc.org

Donate!

Starting July 1st! Your $25 gift = one new backpack filled with essential school supplies. This new backpack will help promote learning, encourage self-esteem, and provide school supplies to youth in our community. You can also collect new backpacks and school supplies and drop them off at the following locations: click here & for the school supplies list: click here

Volunteer

This family-friendly experience offers a great opportunity for community members to volunteer - filling over 2,000 backpacks with necessary school supplies and literally "stuffing a school bus"! Join us at the Kaiser Permanente Arena on August 5th from 10:00-1:00 PM. Lunch and Snacks will be provided. After the event, all backpacks will be transported to the County Office of Education and distributed to students and families at a later time.