‘STUFF THE BUS’ A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS!

United Way of the CSRA would like to thank the community for the tremendous turnout for the recent STUFF THE BUS event held on August 1. 

With the new academic year rapidly approaching, parents are stocking up on school supplies for their children, but for many, this becomes a strain due to financial concerns.  United Way, along with local Walmart Supercenters; Columbia, Richmond and Burke County Boards of Education; WRDW and their Time to Care partners: Taylor Auto Group, Subway and Troy University, joined together to launch the tri-county school supply drive - STUFF THE BUS.  

Ms. La Verne Gold, President/CEO of United Way of the CSRA said, “With many students in Columbia, Richmond and Burke Counties living at the poverty level, acquiring supplies for the new school year poses a real problem.  United Way and our partners wanted to do something to help, and we believed that the community would rally together to help those in need if given the opportunity.  The generosity of these communities certainly exceeded our greatest expectations.” 

On August 1, over 120 volunteers merged at the Walmarts on Bobby Jones Expressway, Deans Bridge Road, Evans, and Waynesboro to collect school supplies for at-risk children in the CSRA.  Due to the overwhelming generosity of the community, four school buses were filled with supplies and over  $2,500 in cash donations were received.  All proceeds were used to purchase additional school items.  These supplies were distributed to children in Richmond, Columbia and Burke Counties.  United Way was told that one middle school student received a new book bag for the very first time in her young life, and she was so appreciative and excited.  

Thank you, CSRA, for making the first annual STUFF THE BUS a tremendous success and thanks for Living United!  Click here for photos.