Stuff-A-School Bus On Saturday to Support Six Elementary Schools

Walk into Staples on Saturday. Maybe pick up four or five extra notebooks and a box of pencils.

Walk outside. Step onto the bus. Hand over the notebooks and pencils. What could be easier?

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, two buses will be parked in front of both Danbury Staples: Mill Plain Road and Newtown Road.

Stuff a bus is designed to help give children and schools in need supplies that are hard to come by.

Terri McCarthy, of the PTO of Mill Ridge, is helping to coordinate this effort. “This was a big success last year. I have met so many parents, especially working parents, who don't know about this. People who want to volunteer can bring their kids. They can sort items and divide them up for the schools. Last year the kids made friends and a lot of grown-ups met, too. It was a big community bonding.”

A mass email was sent out to schools to see if they wanted to participate. Six schools responded, including the Mill Ridge Primary, Morris Street School, Stadley Rough, Ellsworth, Great Plains, and Pembroke.

 “Even the bus drivers get involved. Last year, Brie Dempsey gave up her day from 8:30 to 4:30. Bus drivers even bring their own kids,” said McCarthy. “Parents can sign up for time slots, but even if you can't volunteer, you can donate from Staples or even whatever you have at home that is on the list.”

 Eighteen to twenty parents are needed, and a representative of the PTO for each school will be present. 

Kimi Council, vice president of the PTO at Morris Street, said that with Morris St being a Title 1 school, “We desperately need the supplies to help out the children and the teachers. We need everything all the way down to photo copy paper. We got quite a few donations of copy paper last year and it was a big hit. The teachers are even asking for tissues and hand sanitizer to keep in the class.”

 Copy paper is used for notices that need to be sent home, flyers, and even by students. “It takes a community to raise a community, so please come out and support our youth,” said Council.

Superintendent of Schools, Sal Pascarella, Ed.D., said, “We have been so financially challenged and Stuff-A-Bus is raising items for the schools that teachers sorely need. By doing this community drive, it allows us to distribute money in the budget more evenly and equitably. The success of this depends on the efforts of individuals in the community, and it's very important.”

Here is a copy of the list, which you can download from the Photo Gallery.

Needed School Supplies:

• baby wipes • binder clips • clipboards • colored pencils • composition notebooks • construction paper

• copy paper • crayons • dry erase markers • erasers • facial tissues • folders • glue (sticks and bottles) • hand sanitizer • highlighters

• paint (washable) • paper clips • pencils • pencil sharpeners • Post-It notes

• push pins • red pens • scissors • Sharpies • staples

• staplers • stickers • tape • thumb tacks • other consumables