Jun. 24—Schuylkill United Way will be collecting donations for its 20th annual Stuff the Bus campaign, a school supply drive benefiting local children.

Throughout the month of July, people can donate school supplies at various drop-off locations in the county. The core items needed are crayons, glue sticks, folders, notebooks, colored pencils, dry erase markers, pencil pouches, scissors, pencils, erasers, highlighters, hand sanitizer and book bags.

The campaign will culminate with an event on Aug. 8 when volunteers will stuff more than 1,000 backpacks, which will be distributed to local students via 15 of the United Way's partner agencies.

"This program was designed to help children in need in the county," said Christine Johnson, director of community relations at Schuylkill United Way. "So, we're providing them with the essentials with going back to school."

Currently, the businesses and organizations with public donation boxes are as follows: First Citizens Community Bank, Red White and Blue Autos, Hidden River Credit Union, Hydro, Lehigh Valley Health Network, MAE-Eitel Inc., Mother Bears Candy, Pine Grove Pharmacy, The Primary Health Network, Providence Place, Republican Herald, St. Luke's Hospital-Miners Campus, Schuylkill YMCA, Shalmet, Staples, Ashland Public Library, Orwigsburg Area Free Public Library, Pottsville Free Public Library and Schuylkill Haven Public Library.

Other organizations — Amazon, Eastern Schuylkill Democratic Club, Evans Delivery, Frackville Senior Center, Geisinger St. Luke's, Hexcel, Honeywell, Primary Health Network and TE Connectivity — will participate in the campaign internally, with employees donating supplies.

That list is expected to grow over the next month, Johnson said, as word of the campaign gets out and other organizations elect to participate.

In recent years, Staples has introduced a prepackaged kit that includes 19 school supplies — such as pens, pencils, glue and erasers — in a single, compact box. Each box is $5, and Johnson expects hundreds to be distributed for this year's campaign.

"(Stuff the Bus) has just grown every year," said Kelly Malone, executive director of Schuylkill United Way. "Students, no matter where you are financially, they all deserve to start with brand new material. By having brand new material and a backpack and everything that you need, I think it gives them a better chance at having a successful year. "

Of all the organization's programs and campaigns, she said, Stuff the Bus is the one that "touches the kids the most."

"Everyone starts on a level playing field," Johnson said, "and it's one less worry for parents if we can help them provide this essential item for them, for their students."

Over the past 20 years, Stuff the Bus has distributed more than 19,000 backpacks of school supplies to children in the county. While the campaign has spawned "imitators" among other United Way locations and organizations, Malone is proud of the fact that the program started in Schuylkill County.

To help offset the cost of any supplies not covered by donations, Schuylkill United Way operates an icon program at three locations in the county — BG's Market in Minersville and Pine Grove, and the Beer Shack in Schuylkill Haven.

"(The icons) are sold for $1, and those donations will help offset the cost of the Stuff the Bus supplies," said Katie Malone, administrative assistant.

Marketing director Becky Woods said the campaign is a countywide initiative, with businesses, organizations and volunteers playing a proactive role in bringing it to fruition.

"It's a well-known program in the county," she said. "And people look forward to it every single year because it is truly a need."

Contact the writer: hlee@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6085