GRAND RAPIDS — The United Way of 1000 Lakes annual Stuff the Bus drive is underway to help provide backpacks and school supplies to Itasca County area students.
The drive runs through mid-August in coordination with local Walmart and Target locations. These stores are accepting donations now, along with several other collection locations in Grand Rapids.
United Way is accepting program registrations for the upcoming school year, with parents, teachers, youth support workers and others encouraged to request backpacks for students in need.
Each backpack is filled with items matching a student’s age, gender expression and grade level.
More than 300 backpacks full of school supplies were provided to students last year.
The organization is also looking for volunteers to help with collecting, packing and distributing the backpacks.
A final packing party will take place on Aug. 15 at Klockow Brewing Co.
Drop-off locations
- Coldwell Banker Northwoods (812 S Pokegama Ave, Grand Rapids)
- Grand Rapids Dental Care (220 SE 21st St, Grand Rapids)
- Grand Rapids United Methodist Church (1701 SE 5th Ave, Grand Rapids)
- Itasca County Family YMCA (400 River Rd, Grand Rapids)
- Itasca County DFL (809 NE 4th St, Grand Rapids)
- Kiesler Wellness Center (3130 SE 2nd Ave, Grand Rapids)
- Klockow Brewing Company (36 SE 10th St, Grand Rapids)
- Park State Bank (428 NW 4th Ave, Grand Rapids)
- Park State Bank (1215 S Pokegama Ave, Grand Rapids)
- St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church (501 15th St NW, Grand Rapids)
- Target (2140 S Pokegama Ave, Grand Rapids)
- United Way of 1000 Lakes (350 NW 1st Ave, Ste A)
- Walmart (100 SE 29th St, Grand Rapids)
- Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (2901 US-169, Grand Rapids)
Needed school supplies
- Standard-size, age-appropriate backpacks for elementary, middle, and high school students
- 3-ring binders 1” (black)
- 3- and 5-subject notebooks
- No. 2 wooden pencils
- Blue and black pens
- Colored pencils
- Disinfecting wipes
- Dry-erase Expo markers (black)
- Crayola fine and broad-tip markers
- Headphones
- Large tissue boxes
- Pencil boxes
- Post-its
- Pint, quart, and gallon-sized Ziploc bags
- Plastic pocket folders (red, blue, green, and purple preferred)
- Water bottles
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