CCISD gears up for annual Stuff the Bus event

Collection boxes for school supplies are popping up all over Copperas Cove at local businesses, churches, and organization headquarters as CCISD gears up for its annual Stuff the Bus event. The 3-day collection, which takes place on tax-free weekend August 5-7, provides school supplies for CCISD’s students in need.

 

After an absence for a number of years, the event was started again last year in partnership between CCISD, Copperas Cove Wal-Mart and Star Group-Veterans Helping Veterans. All three groups have joined forces to host the event again this year.

 

Last year’s event raised in excess of $20,000 in school supplies that were distributed to CCISD students based on financial need through Communities in Schools representatives inside each school, said CCISD Public Information Officer Wendy Sledd who organizes the event.

 

“Not only is it important for students to have the supplies needed to excel academically in the classroom, but students also need to feel like they fit in with the other students… that they have quality supplies just like everyone else,” Sledd said.

 

The supply drive is filled with entertainment from local school groups including cheerleaders, the Copperettes, choirs, theater arts and other groups performing all three days of the event. The event requires more than 100 volunteers, made up most of student organizations, who collect the school supplies donated as well as financial contributions.

 

Once again this year, Wal-Mart will kick-off this year’s school supply drive with the first $1,000 in school supplies that employees will load on the bus. Star Group-Veterans Helping Veterans will once again cook hot dogs and run the concession stand on site with all monetary donations being used to purchase school supplies. VHV will also provide an on-site mobile music service to keep up the excitement as the donations come in.

 

Copperas Cove Girl Scout Troop 6120 volunteered to accept donations the first shift of the event last year and is eager to participate again this year, said troop leader Brandy Petty.

 

“Last year, our troop had the opportunity to load the bus up as a team, and they had a blast,” Petty said. “Once they heard they were invited back, they got right to work on decorating boxes to drop off at local businesses in the hopes that they could once again support CCISD kids with their own donations.”

 

The Copperas Cove Rabbit Fest royalty have taken on Stuff the Bus as one of their community service projects. Businesses or organizations that would like a box in which to collect school supplies can contact rabbitfestpageant@gmail.com and a box will be delivered.