Basic school supplies can cost parents an average of $200 per child. For families struggling to make ends meet, this could mean choosing between buying school supplies or putting food on the table.
On July 30 and 31, more than 1,200 volunteers will join United Way to provide essential school supplies to students in need at our annual Stuff the Bus Day of Action.
Because of the generosity of our neighbors and our community’s workforce, every student at more than 14 Metro Nashville Public Schools will receive a backpack full of supplies to start the year off right.
But Stuff the Bus isn’t just about stuffing backpacks. It’s about giving kids the tools they need to learn, to create and to explore. We’re giving families a sigh of relief, one less worry. We’re giving kids the resources to learn new words, solve new math problems, express their creativity and to start each day ready to learn and succeed.
But once supplies run out, the burden to restock falls on teachers who often have small budgets to begin with. We hope to take some of that burden off local teachers by assembling teacher supply boxes full of Lysol wipes, paper towels, hand sanitizer, tissues, Expo markers and Post-it Notes to deliver at the start of the year. According to a survey by the National Center for Education Statistics, 94 percent of teachers spend their own money to stock their classrooms with the necessary supplies and resources. On average, a teacher will spend about $479 from their own pocket each year.
Here’s how you can help:
- Encourage your workplace to start a collection drive. Email Megan.McGuire@uwmn.org.
- Volunteer. Register to volunteer here.
- Purchase teacher supplies from our Amazon Wish List.
- Donate directly to Stuff the Bus here.
Together, we can ensure kids have the supplies they need to start the school year ready to learn.
To learn more about Stuff the Bus, visit unitedwaynashville.org/stuffthebus.