Support Students Experiencing Homelessness Through Stuff the Bus Campaign
The 2024 Stuff the Bus school supplies drive has kicked off as the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) and San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU) team up for the 10th year to help the region’s students who are experiencing homelessness. Donations are being accepted now through the end of July.
More than 21,000 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.
“We continue to hear from local schools and educators asking for supplies and letting us know how much it means to the families who receive them. There are many families who are struggling to meet their basic needs,” said Susie Terry, coordinator of Homeless Education Services at SDCOE. “This drive allows us to alleviate some of their burden by providing new supplies to students so they can start school ready to learn. We are so thankful for our continued partnership with SDCCU and their support 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 middle- or high school-age student. More information is available on SDCOE's Stuff the Bus webpage.
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.
“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. Gloria Ciriza, incoming San Diego County superintendent of schools. “We are committed to reducing poverty through public education and are truly grateful to members of the San Diego community who have shown their support each year for our students. Even the smallest donation during this campaign can make a big impact.”
In 2023, the Stuff the Bus campaign raised more than $100,000 in monetary donations to help purchase more than 9,100 backpacks filled with supplies for San Diego County students.
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