News Summary
In Northeast Florida, where poverty affects a third of residents, the ‘Stuff the Bus’ school supply drive takes place on August 1. This initiative, a collaboration between First Coast News and the United Way, aims to provide essential school supplies for students in need. With drop-off locations at the Markets at Town Center and Staples, donations will benefit family resource centers serving thousands of students. The drive encourages community participation and highlights the pressing need for educational resources in the area.
Jacksonville’s Annual “Stuff the Bus” School Supply Drive Aims to Support Students in Need
Jacksonville, FL – More than a third of Northeast Florida residents live in poverty or near poverty, making the need for school supplies more critical than ever. To address this issue, the annual “Stuff the Bus” school supply drive is scheduled for Friday, August 1, with the aim of supporting local students in need. The drive, organized by a partnership between First Coast News and United Way of Northeast Florida, has been helping to provide essential supplies for nearly two decades.
Donation Details
On August 1, residents can contribute to the drive at two convenient locations: the Markets at Town Center and Staples in Orange Park, both operating from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Donors can also give online through the United Way or make donations via text by sending “CLASSROOMS25” to 30306 while selecting either Duval County or Clay County.
Donations collected for Duval County will specifically aid eight Full Service Schools Family Resource Centers, which serve 87 schools and benefit over 57,000 students. The donations will directly impact these students by providing essential school supplies for the upcoming school year.
Breakdown of Donation Impacts
The drive encourages contributions of varying amounts, with each level of giving translating into tangible benefits for students:
- A donation of $5 can provide a backpack or a personal care kit for a student lacking hygiene items.
- A $25 contribution can supply a fully loaded backpack with essential items for a K-5 student for half the school year.
- A $50 gift can secure a mesh or clear backpack filled with necessary items, including a scientific calculator, catering to a middle school student for half the school year.
- A $100 donation can purchase a complete classroom pack that includes supplies such as disinfectant wipes, dry erase markers, and copy paper.
Community Engagement
The event prioritizes community involvement, inviting companies, churches, and other groups to register as teams to actively participate in supporting the drive. Volunteers will be present from First Coast News to assist donors in dropping off supplies in a contactless manner at the First Coast News tent.
In addition to the in-person donation event, community members can drop off school supply donations at various Community First Credit Union locations throughout Jacksonville and Orange Park. This wide reach aims to make it easy for residents to help provide necessary educational resources for students.
Background Context
The “Stuff the Bus” school supply drive was initiated in response to the growing number of families in Northeast Florida experiencing economic hardship. With over one-third of the population living in poverty or near poverty, access to basic school supplies for children becomes a significant challenge. Many families must make difficult financial decisions, often compromising education essentials due to limited resources.
By rallying community support through initiatives like the “Stuff the Bus” drive, significant strides can be made in equipping students with the tools they need to succeed in their education. This year’s drive aims not only to gather supplies but also to raise awareness about the ongoing challenges faced by many families in the region.
The upcoming school year represents an opportunity for children to thrive academically, and with community support, the “Stuff the Bus” school supply drive hopes to make that a reality for thousands in Jacksonville and beyond.
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Additional Resources
- First Coast News: Stuff the Bus 2025 Donation Drop Off
- WOKV: Jewish Family & Community Services Hosts School Supply Drive
- Jacksonville: Disaster School Supplies Sales Tax Florida Bill
- News4Jax: Back to School Events for Families
- Jacksonville Free Press: Jumbo Shrimp Players Accompany Students
- Wikipedia: Community Service
- Google Search: School Supply Drives
- Google Scholar: Education Funding
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education
- Google News: School Supply Donations
Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER
JACKSONVILLE STAFF WRITER The JACKSONVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREJacksonville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Jacksonville, Duval County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Riverside Arts Market, and World of Nations Celebration. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and JAXUSA Partnership, plus leading businesses in logistics, healthcare, and entertainment that power the local economy such as CSX Corporation, Baptist Health, and VyStar Credit Union. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
