It may feel like summer has just begun, but the dawning of another school year draws near.

First Day of School Is Approaching

The first day of school in Mesa County is August 9 and the annual Stuff the Bus campaign to collect school supplies and cash donations for Mesa County students in need is underway.

What Is Stuff the Bus?

The Townsquare Media family of radio stations is teaming up with Mesa County Valley School District 51 for the annual Stuff the Bus campaign. A bus from Student Transportation of America has been placed inside Mesa Mall at Clock Court and the public is encouraged to drop off bags of school supplies at the bus. The windows are open so you can toss your donations inside.

We realize there are a lot of people who want to help out, but it can be inconvenient to go out to purchase supplies, make a trip out to the mall, and then carry all of the supplies inside. That's why we encourage everyone to simply make a secure cash donation online through the D51 Foundation. These cash donations will then be used to purchase specific school supplies that are needed at each school in the district. In 2020, nearly $3000 was raised for school supplies in Mesa County.

Who Benefits From Stuff the Bus?

Nearly half of District 51 students live in households that meet federal income requirements for free or reduced-price school lunches. That simply means there are a lot of students who are going to come up short when it comes to school supplies. Often times teachers take money out of their own pocket to make sure students have what they need. Stuff the Bus is a huge blessing to teachers and students alike.

What School Supplies Are Needed?

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If you prefer to do the shopping yourself here is a list of school supplies we need.
* #2 pencils
* colored pencils
* markers
* crayons
* notebooks
* notebook paper
* graph paper
* glue sticks
* scissors
* rulers
* pocket folders
* 3-ring binders
* erasers

We are grateful for our partnerships in the local community that make Stuff the Bus possible including Grand Valley Pediatrics at Community Hospital, Mesa Mall, Student Transportation of America, and, of course, Mesa County Valley School District 51 and the  D51 Foundation.

You will find the bus at Clock Court inside Mesa Mall, and we thank you in advance for whatever you can do to help. The more people we can get involved in the Stuff the Bus campaign, the less each person will have to do.

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