Daily News

Help Stuff the Bus by Filling the Fiat for United Way of Pioneer Valley

SPRINGFIELD — United Way of Pioneer Valley announced the return of the Fiat at 1441 Main St., Springfield, in the interior rotunda. This time, anyone interested can stop by and make donations of school supplies to fill the Fiat as part of United Way’s Stuff the Bus initiative. Stuff the Bus provides backpacks filled with school supplies for students who are homeless throughout Hampden County, Granby, and South Hadley.

United Way works with McKinney-Vento representatives in each school district to gather the number of students K-12 who are homeless. This year, more than 2,000 students are in need. United Way relies on donations of school supplies from the community, and volunteers assist with the packing.

“We are fortunate to have generous donors who want to ensure that every student begins the school year with the supplies they need. And we are grateful to Peter Pan Bus Lines, who lend a bus and driver each year to deliver the backpacks to the school districts,” said Paul Mina, president and CEO of United Way of Pioneer Valley.

Items needed most include notebooks, composition books, filler paper, crayons, index cards, pencil sharpeners, erasers, highlighters, and rulers. Supplies may be dropped off at 1441 Main St. by the Fiat through Aug. 16. Other drop-off sites include Target and Macy’s at the Holyoke Mall and Balise dealerships.

For more information on our Stuff the Bus initiative and needed items, visit www.uwpv.org/stuff-the-bus.