On July 15 and 16, an incredible energy filled Nissan Stadium as 416 dedicated volunteers rolled up their sleeves for United Way’s 17th annual Stuff the Bus event. The atmosphere was electric, a true example of the Nashville community’s commitment to supporting education and ensuring every child has the tools they need to succeed.
Thanks to this overwhelming wave of generosity and hard work, 15,000 elementary students across nine counties will now receive brand-new backpacks and supplies, ready to start the school year with confidence.
Over these two days, our amazing volunteers contributed over 1,780 hours – sorting supplies, efficiently assembling backpacks, and celebrating the powerful spirit of giving that defines our community. We extend our deepest gratitude to the 70 companies and individuals whose thoughtful collections and generous donations formed the very cornerstone of this incredible initiative.
This year, the need for community support is more critical than ever. The cost of school supplies has increased by 24.5% over the past four years, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index. For families already struggling to make ends meet, this rising cost makes buying essential school supplies a real challenge. Every single backpack represents a crucial step toward educational equity, guaranteeing that students have the essential resources they need to thrive in the classroom and beyond.A Huge Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors!This massive undertaking simply wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our dedicated sponsors. We are immensely grateful to:ONE Community/Tennessee Titans Foundation, Amazon, American Construction, Asurion, Atmos Energy, CoreCivic, Deloitte, Dollar General, Earl Swenson Associates, EY, Ingram, Piedmont Natural Gas, Publix Charities, Regions, Rogers Group, 6th Man Movers, UPS, Waste Management Services, and Hands On powered by United Way of Greater Nashville.To learn more about Stuff the Bus and how you can join us in future efforts, visit unitedwaygreaternashville.org/stuff-the-bus.