FRANKLIN COUNTY — United Way of Franklin County is about halfway through its 7th annual Stuff the Bus drive to collect school supplies for local classrooms.
Back in 2013, UW officials were concerned about stories they were hearing about so many teachers having to buy classroom supplies themselves.
School districts were economizing and had been for a number of years. Expenditures on classroom supplies were an easy target. Teachers were filling the gap with supplies bought with their own money.
A Prosperity Indicators Report indicated that the investment per student in local school districts was lower than other counties.
While that is favorable for taxes and keeping the cost of education low, it was a hardship for some teachers.
“We researched what other communities were doing to serve local teachers and students, modified ideas to fit the needs of our local school districts, and launched Stuff the Bus,” UW’s Amy Weibley said.
Communities in each of Franklin County’s five school districts collect donations of school supplies at a variety of locations over the summer. Early in August, UW volunteers pick up those donated supplies and deliver them to the districts. Each district decides how to get those supplies into their classrooms.
“It decreases the burden on teachers to use their own resources to provide school supplies for their classrooms,” Weibley said.
Last year, UW collected nearly $16,000 worth of school supplies. Donations made in each community stay in that community’s school district.
A Complete List of Needed Supplies:
- 1.5” Binders*
- Backpacks*
- Calculators
- Clorox Wipes
- Colored Pencils
- Compass & Protractor
- Crayons
- Erasers*
- Facial Tissues*
- Glue and Glue Sticks*
- Hand Sanitizer*
- Highlighters
- Index Cards
- Jump Ropes
- Lined Paper
- Markers
- Notebooks (Composition and Spiral)
- Pens
- Pencils*
- Pencil Bags for Binders*
- Playground Balls
- Pocket Folders*
- Rulers
- Safety Scissors
- Subject Dividers
- Tape
- *Especially needed items
There are multiple drop off sites in each school district where the supplies can be dropped off.
Donate school supplies to serve local students before the pick-up dates for your community.
Donation Location and Time
- Greencastle: Friday, August 2
- Waynesboro: Friday, August 2 (Stuff the Bus will also be at the Wizarding Festival August 3 collecting donations)
- Fannett-Metal: Thursday, August 8
- Chambersburg: Friday, August 9
- Tuscarora: Friday, August 9
Where to Donate
Chambersburg:
- 1st Ed Credit Union
- Barra Orthodontics
- Boyer & Ritter
- Chambersburg Cold Storage
- Chambersburg YMCA
- Coyle Free Library
- Creative Minds Learning and Development Center
- Cumberland Valley School of Music
- Downtown Business Council
- First Start Partnerships for Children & Families
- Franklin County Government Employees
- Gartenberg Jewelry
- The Gift Enclosure
- Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce
- Grove Family Library
- Here’s Looking at You
- HRG
- Keystone Community Outreach
- Ludwig’s Jewelers
- M&T Bank (all branches)
- Marion Bingo Club / Marion Fire Company
- Molly’s Restaurant
- Orrstown Bank (all branches)
- Occupational Services Inc.
- Patriot Federal Credit Union (all branches)
- Pierson Family Chiropractic
- Rotary Club of Chambersburg
- Satelite Rotary
- Smith Elliott Kearns & Co.
- Spiritrust Lutheran Home Care & Hospice
- United Way of Franklin County
- WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital
- WellSpan Summit Physician Services
McConnellsburg:
- FirstEnergy
- JLG
Fannett-Metal:
- Metal Township Fire Co.
- Orrstown Bank (all branches)
- Path Valley Diner
- Path Valley Market
- Path Valley Parade on August 8
Greencastle:
- 1st Ed Credit Union
- Antrim Way Honda
- Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce
- Greencastle Learning Center
- Greencastle Veterinary Hospital
- M&T Bank
- Manitowoc
- Orrstown Bank
Mercersburg:
- Bell Insurance
- Fast Ink
- First United Methodist Church
- M&T Bank
- One North
- Orrstown Bank (both locations)
- Presbyterian Church in Mercersburg The Star Theatre
- Tuscarora Area Chamber of Commerce
Waynesboro:
- FirstEnergy (West Penn Power)
- Greater Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce
- James Shoe Store
- Johnson Controls
- M&T Bank (all branches)
- Main Street Waynesboro
- Patriot Federal Credit Union (all branches)
- Record Herald
- Waynesboro Day Care Center
- Waynesboro YMCA
- WellSpan Waynesboro Hospital & Medical
- Office Building
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