United Way's Stuff the Bus: Bridging Educational Gaps

Almost half the children attending U.S. public schools come from low-income families, research shows. And some 16 million children lack access to essential school supplies. This means about one in every four students -- or 25% of students in the US -- can't afford school supplies as school starts back up. This hinders a child's academic performance, but also impacts their self-esteem and drives up absenteeism.

In response, United Ways across the U.S. mobilize communities to donate school supplies and backpacks for students whose families can't afford back-to-school shopping. United Way’s Stuff the Bus initiative ensures these children have the tools they need, while easing financial strain on their families.

In Illinois, United Way of Lake County began its Stuff the Bus program in 2019 to support students in districts where more than 50% of the student population comes from low-income households and nearly 500 students are homeless. This year, 125 volunteers from over 30 companies packed and distributed over 3,000 backpacks filled with essential school supplies. The effort also included 300 teacher kits and over 3,000 custom bookmarks, ensuring students have what they need to thrive academically. United Way of Lake County continues to make an impact thanks to the generosity of more than 80 donors who raised $14,000 online and hundreds of community members who purchased and donated supplies. Maria Colunga, Community Outreach Specialist at Round Lake Area School District 116, shared, “Families are grateful because they are getting the help they need. Through this campaign, we help families focus on what’s important—getting kids ready for school.”

United Way of Hernando County in Florida has led its Stuff the Bus initiative for 18 years. This year, over 3,000+ lbs. of school supplies were donated through 13 collection sites across the county in mid-July. “We are grateful to have so many back-to-school efforts take place in our community, but Stuff the Bus is unique, since we partner directly with our schoolteachers and fulfill their specialized Wish Lists,” stated United Way CEO Angie B. Walasek. “Who knows classroom needs better than our educators? Teachers spend hundreds of dollars out of their own pockets each year on classroom basics, and it is a privilege to alleviate any of these costs. It’s the least we can do!” Over 62 local classrooms within 14 different schools benefited from donated supplies. This included over 1,072 boxes of crayons, 1,509 glue sticks, 546 composition notebooks, and many more essentials. This annual event’s success is due to the 340 volunteer hours logged by teachers, students, and community partners advocating for classroom unmet needs, sorting, counting, and packing school supplies.

United Way of the National Capital Area (United Way NCA) in Washington, D.C. focuses on supporting the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population, which represents more than 500,000 low- and moderate-income households in our region who are earning above the Federal Poverty Line ($31,200 annually for a family of four) but still cannot afford basic necessities. According to the United Way NCA's ALICE Reports, 48% of K-12 students in the region are economically disadvantaged, negatively affecting attendance and graduation rates. In 2024, United Way NCA partnered with over 140 volunteers collectively serving over 310 hours across three days of service opportunities to pack 880 backpacks.

Nicole Evans, Senior Director of Development Communications at United Way Worldwide, joined the United Way NCA Stuff the Bus event and said, “Volunteering at the event was an incredibly fulfilling experience. Seeing so many dedicated volunteers and knowing that every backpack packed was helping a student feel prepared and supported—it reminded me why United Way’s work is so important.”

The impact of United Way’s Stuff the Bus initiative goes beyond providing school supplies—it strengthens communities by supporting students and their families. United Way’s focus on mobilizing communities so all can thrive is helping to build brighter futures for thousands of students.

To get involved in supporting students in your community, contact your local United Way.