Help Provide School Supplies to Region’s Students Experiencing Homelessness During Stuff the Bus Campaign

The 2022 Stuff the Bus school supplies drive officially kicks off today as the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) and San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU) team up for the eighth straight year to help the region’s students who are experiencing homelessness. 

More than 18,000 school-age children in San Diego County have been identified as homeless. SDCOE and SDCCU – along with iHeartMedia, and Ralphs and Food 4 Less grocery stores – 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. A portion of donations will also assist San Diego Youth Services in providing meals for homeless youth through its various food programs.

“We know that families in our communities are struggling,” said Susie Terry, coordinator, Homeless Education Services at the San Diego County Office of Education. “Each year, this drive allows us to relieve some of their burden as they prepare to go back to school. Every spring we hear from local schools asking if we will have supplies again and letting us know how much it means to the families to receive them. We are so grateful for our continued partnership with SDCCU and the impact of Stuff the Bus!”

The Stuff the Bus campaign will be collecting monetary donations online or in-store at any Ralphs or Food 4 Less grocery store in the county. Donations are welcome in any amount. 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 secondary-age student. More information is available at www.sdcoe.net/stuffthebus. 

The SDCCU Stuff the Bus campaign, which runs throughout July, also partners with local iHeartMedia radio stations Star 94.1, JAM’N 95.7, and Channel 93.3 for special appearances and live interviews. 

“We are incredibly grateful to members of the San Diego community who have shown their support each year for students across the region experiencing homelessness,” said Dr. Paul Gothold, San Diego County superintendent of schools. “Our students and their families continue to face daily challenges, and even the smallest donation during this campaign can make a big impact. We want to make sure our most vulnerable students have what they need to participate in school and be able to focus on learning.”  

In 2021, the Stuff the Bus campaign raised more than $100,000 in monetary donations to help purchase more than 7,900 backpacks filled with supplies for San Diego County students.