The 15th annual Stuff the Bus event, a San Luis Obispo countywide school supplies donation drive, starts this week.
The event runs from Friday, Aug. 11 through Sunday, Aug. 13. (The event starts Aug. 10 for the Paso Robles site only.)
The event collects and then distributes school supplies to students in the school districts throughout the county.
Editor's Note: Find the full list of supplies drop-off locations at the bottom of this page.
“I personally know that it means a lot because last year was my first Stuff the Bus and I saw firsthand the school supplies being directly handed out to the students and their faces lit up,” Maria McGlothlin said, who is the resource development director of United Way of San Luis Obispo County. “Their parents were so excited and so happy.”
Families are anticipated to spend about $890 on average for back-to-school supplies, according to the National Retail Foundation.
A list of suggested school supplies includes 28 items. You can view the full list toward the bottom of the United Way SLO County website.
“[The event] is huge,” McGlothlin continued. “And it sets the stage for the school year and it helps it to be successful and gives them confidence.”
The organization needs volunteers for the event, particularly in Atascadero, McGlothlin said.
Three separate shifts and five different positions are available, according to the organization’s website. The organization’s website needs volunteers at five different listed locations across the county.
The public is encouraged to drop off school supplies at various workplace collection sites:
List of countywide workplace collection sites (bottom of page)
- Dignity Health, French Hospital Medical Center — 1911 Johnson Ave, San Luis Obispo
- Coastal Pediatric Dentistry — 620 California Blvd STE G, San Luis Obispo
- 1st Capital Bank — 599 Higuera St STE B, San Luis Obispo — July 24 to August 10
- Mechanics Bank — 899 W Grand Ave, Grover Beach
- Mechanics Bank — 865 Oak Park Blvd, Pismo Beach
- Whiz Kids SLO — 3979 S Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo
- American Riviera Bank — 1085 Higuera St #120, San Luis Obispo
- SLO Credit Union — 1220 Osos St, San Luis Obispo
- Murphy Bank — 892 Aerovista Pl #110, San Luis Obispo
- Fitness Works — 500 Quintana Road, Morro Bay - July 18th - August 10th
- Lubrizol Advanced Materials — 3115 Propeller Dr., Paso Robles — July 24-August 10
- Edward Jones Investments — 7305 Morro Rd, Suite 202, SLO — July 19th to August 11th
- Coast Hills Credit Union — (All SLO County branches) — July 31 - August 11
