School Supplies Drive Helps Students Experiencing Homelessness

The 2023 Stuff the Bus school supplies drive officially kicks off June 26 as the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) and San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU) team up for the ninth straight year to help the region’s students who are experiencing homelessness. 

More than 20,000 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. 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 the struggles for many of our families have increased since the pandemic,” said Susie Terry, coordinator, Homeless Education Services at the San Diego County Office of Education. “This drive allows us to relieve just a portion of their burdens by providing new supplies they need to start school and be ready to learn. We continue to hear from local schools asking for supplies 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 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 secondary-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: Star 94.1, JAM’N 95.7, Channel 93.3, KGB 101.5, ROCK 105.3, KOGO AM 600, San Diego Sports AM 760, and The Patriot AM 1360.

“It’s so important that our students experiencing homelessness are cared for and feel a sense of belonging at school, which is why providing them with school supplies and making sure they are ready to learn is essential,” said Dr. Paul Gothold, San Diego County superintendent of schools. “We are incredibly grateful to members of the San Diego community who have shown their support each year for our students, even though so many of them face challenges themselves. Even the smallest donation during this campaign can make a big impact.”  

In 2022, the Stuff the Bus campaign raised more than $100,000 in monetary donations to help purchase more than 8,600 backpacks filled with supplies for San Diego County students.