This Summer, United Way of Salt Lake rallied corporate and community volunteers to deliver the 15th year of our Stuff the Bus campaign. One of our signature Year of Action events, Stuff the Bus provides backpacks and school supplies for thousands of Utah students so they can start the new school year prepared and ready to learn.
Every year, our team supports supply drives hosted by community members, businesses, and organizations, coordinates volunteers to sort and stuff the supplies into backpacks, and facilitates distribution to classrooms across the Wasatch Front.
This year’s Stuff the Bus was a huge success, with 50 supply drives and over $76,000 in funds raised to serve over 10,000 Utah students and meet every request from 30 schools and six nonprofit partners in Davis and Salt Lake Counties. Additionally, 249 volunteers showed up to help count and sort donated supplies and to stuff backpacks with pencils, notebooks, folders, and more. In total, we distributed 8,554 backpacks and 110,655 individual school supplies!
Tyra Armstrong is the Family Resource & Engagement Coordinator at Kearns Jr. High through the Salt Lake County Afterschool Program. Armstrong has experienced firsthand the impact this initiative has for students and families.
“Thanks to Stuff the Bus, we empower families and equip children with the tools they need to thrive in school,” Armstrong said. “These supplies lay the foundation for academic success and ignite a passion for learning. … By providing backpacks filled with essential school supplies, we can significantly enhance a child’s educational experience. We are deeply grateful for their support.”
THANK YOU to all the supply drive hosts, volunteers, donors, and sponsors who helped make Stuff the Bus 2025 a success. Below, we’ve highlighted a few of our Year of Action and event sponsors who helped us reach our goal of providing school supplies for 10,000 Utah students.
CHG Healthcare
CHG Healthcare has been a Year of Action sponsor for three years, contributing both financial support and volunteers. This year, 15 volunteers from CHG Healthcare helped count and sort school supplies at the South Salt Lake Community Center. Their support ensured the supplies were organized and ready to be stuffed into backpacks and distributed to students across the valley.
“Supporting Stuff the Bus means CHG employees get to be part of something bigger—helping kids feel prepared and confident as they head back to school. We believe every child deserves access to quality education, and sometimes that starts with something as simple as having the right supplies. Volunteering is one way our employees can show up for our community and support the future generation.”
-Jessica Strong, Director of Community Impact, CHG Healthcare
O.C. Tanner
O.C. Tanner, one of our Year of Action sponsors, hosted a Stuff the Bus supply drive and fundraiser this year to help ensure Utah students are equipped to start the school year. Additionally, 11 volunteers from O.C. Tanner came to count and sort school supplies at the South Salt Lake Community Center.
“Volunteering for Stuff the Bus is deeply personal for our team at O.C. Tanner. It reflects our values of community, gratitude, and recognition. We’re proud to support Utah students and educators by helping ensure every child starts the school year with the tools they need to thrive. When we invest in education, we invest in the long-term strength of our communities.”
-Chavalah Washington, Safety & Wellness Leader, O.C. Tanner
Although Stuff the Bus is over for this year, there are still ways you or your company can get involved with United Way of Salt Lake’s education and basic needs initiatives. Visit our website to find more volunteer opportunities throughout the year or donate to support our mission of 100% of Utah kids and families thriving.
Written by Jenna Fischer, Content Strategist
