Support school supply drive

SANDUSKY — With back-to-school season fast approaching, the Stuff the Bus committee of Erie and Huron counties is once again stepping in to make sure students have what they need to succeed. The initiative is a joint effort between local school districts and community partners, including VacationLand Federal Credit Union, the Sandusky Mall and the Sandusky Bay Kiwanis Community Service Corp. Now open for registration, this program offers free backpacks and school supplies to local students entering grades K-8 whose families are experiencing financial hardship. More specifically, it helps out students enrolled in all Erie County schools and various ones in Huron County: Bellevue, Monroeville, New London, South Central, Willard and St. Francis Xavier. On a related note, Norwalk and St. Paul operate their separate Stuff the Bus campaign. How to sign up? The goal is to relieve some of the financial pressure that comes with getting kids ready for the school year. Each backpack is packed with essentials tailored by grade level. Students in grades: • K–5 will receive basics like pencils, crayons, markers, scissors and glue. • 6–8 will be supplied with pens, folders, notebooks and other age-appropriate items. Backpacks will be distributed through the student's school, and families will be notified when pick-up is scheduled. Families are still responsible for any additional supplies not covered by the program. To participate, families must register by July 27. Registration can be completed at vlfcu.org/stuffthebus or by scanning the QR code provided by the district. For those preferring paper, forms can be submitted by mail or email. While the campaign kicked off in June, it continues through Aug. 4, which gives "the committee and volunteers ample time to inventory donations, stuff backpacks and deliver to the schools," according to an event statement. People can contact Heather Gilchrist at 419-625-9025, ext. 1342, or via email at hgilchrist@vlfcu.org, for more information. Want to help? The committee seeks various school supplies in new condition: backpacks, pencils, pens, colored pencils, markers, highlighters, three-ring binders, glue bottles and sticks, scissors, pink erasers, folders, pencil boxes and pouches, wide-ruled and college-ruled paper and composition books, among other items. A full list can be found at facebook.com/stuffthebuseriehuroncounties. There are several public drop-off locations, accepting items through Aug. 4: Huron • Ideal Chiropractic, 358 North Main St. • Huron Eagles, Lake Erie Aeria 2875, 2902 Cleveland Road W. (U.S. 6) • VacationLand Federal Credit Union, 2402 University Drive, Huron New London • Firelands Electric Cooperative, 103 Industrial Drive Norwalk • Fisher-Titus Medical Center, 272 Benedict Ave. • VacationLand Federal Credit Union, 26 Executive Drive Sandusky • AAA Ohio Auto Club, 4917 Milan Road (U.S. 250) • Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, 417 Quarry Lakes Drive • Grace Episcopal Church, 315 Wayne St. • Perkins Township Police Department, 2610 Columbus Ave. • Sandusky Mall, center court, 4314 Milan Road (U.S. 250) • Stefano Dental, 1617 W. Bogart Road • Texas Roadhouse, 4314 Milan Road (U.S. 250), Unit 750 • VacationLand Federal Credit Union, 2409 E. Perkins Ave. • VacationLand Federal Credit Union, 2911 Hayes Ave. (Ohio 4) Vermilion • VacationLand Federal Credit Union, 1607 State Road (Ohio 60), Suite 11 Monetary donations are also accepted at all VacationLand Federal Credit Union branches. Checks should be made payable to the Sandusky Bay Kiwanis Community Service Corp. They can also be addressed to: • VacationLand Federal Credit Union Attn: Marketing • 2911 Hayes Ave. • Sandusky, OH 44870 Cash is also accepted. "The success of this program is made possible through the generous donations we receive each year from community partners like you," according to an event statement.