Annual School Supplies Drive for Students Experiencing Homelessness Continues

Watch Dr. Gloria E. Ciriza and SDCCU's Heather Diamond kick off the campaign on CBS 8.

The 2025 Stuff the Bus school supplies drive is open for donations as the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) and San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU) team up for the 11th straight year to help the region’s students who are experiencing homelessness. Donate now!

More than 23,000 school-age children in San Diego County have been identified as experiencing homelessness. SDCOE and SDCCU – along with iHeartMedia, and Jersey Mike’s – aim to collect thousands of dollars in online and in-store donations to purchase much-needed pencils, pens, binders, crayons, backpacks, and more during the SDCCU Stuff the Bus campaign. 

“Each year, we hear from educators about how much these supplies mean to the children who receive them,” said Susie Terry, coordinator of Homeless Education Services at SDCOE. “For families who are struggling just to get by, something as simple as a new backpack or a set of pencils can bring hope, dignity, and a sense of belonging. Stuff the Bus truly has an impact, and we are deeply grateful for our continued partnership with SDCCU and their unwavering support in helping our students feel seen, supported, and ready to learn.”

The Stuff the Bus campaign will be collecting monetary donations online or in-store at participating Jersey Mike’s locations in the county. Donations are welcome in any amount; for example, $20 will cover the cost of a backpack filled with supplies for an elementary-age student, while $25 will cover the cost of a backpack and supplies for a middle- or high school-age student. More information is available at www.sdcoe.net/stuffthebus. 

The SDCCU Stuff the Bus campaign, which runs through the end of July, also partners with local iHeartMedia radio stations for special appearances and live interviews. You might hear more about Stuff the Bus on the following stations: Channel 93.3, Star 94.1, JAM’N 95.7, KGB 101.5, ROCK 105.3, KOGO AM 600, San Diego Sports AM 760, and The Patriot AM 1360.

“Making sure that our students experiencing homelessness have the supplies they need to learn when they return to school is really important,” said Dr. Gloria E. Ciriza, San Diego County superintendent of schools. “Year after year our community shows amazing support for students across the county. Even the smallest donation during this campaign can make a big impact.”  

In 2024, the Stuff the Bus campaign raised $111,000 in monetary donations to help purchase more than 8,900 backpacks filled with supplies for San Diego County students.