Time again to 'Stuff the School Bus'

Volunteers help kick off the 'Stuff the School Bus' campaign for 2009. From left, front row, are Cub Scouts from Pack 390 Hayden Gunter, Lee Stallings and Bryan Loyd; and Kylee and Ethan Calvert. Back row: Sammy Stallings with Pack 390; 'Stuff the Bus' chairperson Connie Boutwell; Tonya Davis; Kerry and Hunter Calvert; and Bedford County United Way Director Dawn Holley. Donations of school supplies can be dropped off at numerous locations in Bedford County. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Order this photo]

It's never too soon to start thinking about school supplies. For some people, however, the added costs of paper, notebooks, pencils and more can be overwhelming -- especially in today's economy and with the many job losses in Bedford County.

That's where the United Way's "Stuff the School Bus" program comes in. Volunteers, lead by chairman Connie Boutwell, gather new donated supplies, or purchase school supplies with donated money, and literally "stuff" a school bus.

The supplies are then redistributed to every public school in the county, getting to the children who need them the most. Many people have seen the bus parked in front of Walmart on the big "Stuff the Bus" day, but collections actually start much earlier.

"There are 21 different places where you can leave donations," said Dawn Holley, director of the Bedford County United Way. "We'll have boxes out, and lists of what we need."

The United Way has lots of help when it comes to stuffing the bus.

"We're partners with First Baptist Church in Normandy, the 4-H kids are always a big help, Boy Scouts and Walmart," said Holley. "And we couldn't do it without Connie."

The Walmart collection will be July 18.

Drop-off locations

* Bedford Co. Education (Central Office)

* Bedford County Chiropractic

* Bell Buckle Café

* Jimmy Clark, DDS

* First Community Bank (Elm Street)

* First Community Bank (Madison Street)

* First Community Bank (North Main Street)

* FirstBank

* H&H Piggly Wiggly (Unionville)

* Heritage Medical Center

* Heritage South Credit Union

* Kut Ups Family Hair Design

* Peoples Bank of Bedford Co.

* Pinnacle Financial

* Regions Bank (Main Branch)

* Regions Bank (Elm Street)

* Regions Bank (East Branch)

* Shelbyville Recreation Center

* Stor-N-Lock

* USBank

* Wartrace Town Hall

Items needed

24-count Crayons

Colored pencils

Black and blue pens

#2 pencils (NO mechanical pencils)

Glue sticks

Elmer's glue (or any white glue)

Plastic school box

Plastic blunt Fiskars scissors

Regular scissors

Folders with two pockets and brads (fasteners)

Nap mats

Package - 100 count- wide rule paper

70 page spiral notebooks (wide rule) --

some specify red, yellow, and green

Five-subject wide ruled spiral notebook

Eight-line tablets

Book bags

Zipper pencil pouch w/clear front and three holes for notebook

Pocket dividers

Ruled index cards (3x5)

Black marble composition book

One-inch hardback vinyl notebook

(plain, solid color, with pockets --NO zippers or Velcro)

Two-inch three-ring binder