by Chloie Dale
Volunteer Events Intern
As the first day of school approaches, students are planning their back-to-school outfits and making sure every folder, notebook, and crayon is in pristine condition. The bell rings marking day one of 180, and classroom chatter begins. Students share their summer stories, compare whose folder has the coolest character, and show off their latest backpacks. While new school supplies is the topic of the morning, some students might slump into their seats because they lack the school supplies that most kids show up to school with on the first day. For many low-income students, back-to-school shopping is not an option. Fortunately, YOU have the ability to brighten a student’s day by participating in Stuff the Bus!
United Way of Salt Lake’s Stuff the Bus event will help 11,000 low-income students get the necessary school supplies they need to succeed and start the year off right. This year, there are two easy and fun ways to donate.
- Visit our virtual supply drive to buy supplies with the click of a button, or create a team, set a goal, and share the page with coworkers, friends, and family. All of the items donated will be directly shipped to our office. This drive will end on August 5.
- You can also host a physical supply drive. You set up the drive location, collect the items needed, and then drop them off at the Columbus Community Center between August 15-18, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
CONTEST TIME!
Also, throughout the month of July, share photos of your participation on Facebook using #BecauseICare! All photos showing Stuff the Bus activities (buying crayons at the store, creating a bus-themed box to place at your work, handing out flyers of the event with your child’s scout troop, etc.) are eligible to win! You can enter as many photos as you want until July 31.
We will randomly select two winners at the end of July (a corporate winner (tag your company in your post!) and an individual/community group winner).
PRIZES: The winning corporate photo and the winning individual or community group will receive a Fujifilm Instax instant camera and film, a personalized thank you sign at the Stuff the Bus event on August 27, and shout out during announcements at the event!
A third prize will go to the photo with the most likes, and will win free pizza for up to 20 people!
We are helping 3,000 more kids than last year, making this our BIGGEST Stuff the Bus event yet. Anyone can help make a difference in these kids’ lives, and we need YOUR help in order to make this event a success.
Are YOU ready to help the students in your community succeed?
#BecauseICare
For more information visit our website, or contact Stephanie Rokich at volunteercenter@uw.org or 801.746.2566.
