Home Posts tagged Stuff the Bus

Stuff the Bus Event to Gather Toys, Funds for Families in Local Homeless Shelters

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Way Finders is teaming up with First Student, Springfield’s school bus transportation company, for a Stuff the Bus toy and fundraising drive on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Boston Road Walmart in Springfield.

“Children and families deserve joyful holidays, but that can be challenging when living in shelter. Money is tight. You don’t have your own place,” said Megan Pete, director of Development at Way Finders. “Our goal is to make the holidays a little brighter for the hundreds of families in our shelters this year.”

Stuff the Bus accepts new, unwrapped toys for children from newborn through age 13. It accepts donations of funds or gift cards for teenagers.

Stuff the Bus was inspired by Takira Williams, a bus driver for the Springfield Public Schools. After seeing a post from Way Finders asking people to sign up for its toy drive, she had an even bigger idea — why not host a Stuff the Bus event? She brought the idea to her manager at First Student, and the company agreed to provide the bus and support this event.

All are invited to stop by and bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate. Way Finders will distribute toys to families in their shelters in time for the holidays.

United Way of Pioneer Valley’s Stuff the Bus Program Supports Homeless Children

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — United Way of Pioneer Valley announced its 2025 Stuff the Bus school supply drive. The organizaion is reaching out to the community for support in its mission to provide essential school supplies to area homeless children, starting July 23.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to start the school year prepared and excited to learn. However, for homeless children, this can be a significant challenge,” said Megan Moynihan, president and CEO of United Way of Pioneer Valley. “We would not be able to do this without the generous support of Peter Pan Bus Lines. Every year, they provide a bus and driver to deliver the backpacks to all districts in need.

Needed items include elementary age backpacks (boys & girls), middle and high school age backpacks (gender neutral), composition books, elementary age scissors, glue sticks, index cards, markers, Post-it notes, and 12-inch rulers, as well as classroom supplies for teachers, such as paper towels, hand sanitizer, and dry erase makers.

Supplies may be dropped off at any of the following locations from July 23 through Aug. 6:

  • AAA Northeast, 150 Capital Dr., West Springfield;
  • AAA Northeast, 1891 Wilbraham Road, Springfield;
  • Balise Chevy Buick GMC, 440 Hall of Fame Ave., Springfield;
  • Balise Ford of Wilbraham, 1979 Boston Road, Wilbraham;
  • Balise Honda West Springfield, 400 Riverdale St., West Springfield;
  • Balise Hyundai, 683 East Columbus Ave., Springfield;
  • Balise Kia, 635 Riverdale St., West Springfield;
  • Balise Lexus, 1385 Riverdale St., West Springfield;
  • Balise Mazda, 733 East Columbus Ave., Springfield;
  • Balise Nissan of West Springfield, 500 Riverdale St., West Springfield;
  • Balise Ready Credit, 693 East Columbus Ave., Springfield;
  • Balise Toyota, 1399 Riverdale St., West Springfield;
  • East Coast Tile, 8 Stony Brook St., Ludlow;
  • Peter Pan Bus Lines, Springfield Union Station (ticket counter);
  • United Way of Pioneer Valley, 1441 Main St., Suite 137, Springfield; and
  • Western Mass News, 1300 Liberty St., Springfield.

To learn more about sponsoring the Stuff the Bus program, email Jessica Prokop at [email protected].

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

By
Daily News

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.