Richmond County residents can expect to see a bus parked in front of Wal-Mart August 7, but the bus will not be for student passengers. Instead, the bus will hold school supplies collected by the local community. Richmond County Schools, United Way of Richmond County and Wal-Mart, will host the first ever “Stuff the Bus” school supplies drive, and the entire community is encouraged to participate.

The Stuff the Bus event will begin at 10 a.m. in the Wal-Mart parking lot August 7. Special coupons will be available to the first few shoppers who make a donation.

Richmond County Schools has participated in the “School Tools” program for several years. This year, school officials met with Michelle Parrish, executive director of the United Way of Richmond County to discuss the possibilities for a Stuff the Bus drive. Several other counties have hosted similar drives, with much success. Parrish says she believes the event is a special way that United Way of Richmond County can help school-age children.

“United Way of Richmond County believes that the inability to afford school supplies should not be an obstacle to a child’s success.” Parrish said “ One way that we are working to advance the good of all is to ensure that when school starts this year that every child has the ability to return to the classroom with all the supplies that are needed for them to be successful.”

The Stuff the Bus drive falls on the first day of tax-free weekend, another strategy to encourage shoppers to come out to Wal-Mart and fill the bus with their school supplies.

“Special events have a powerful way of bringing the entire community together,” said Ashley Simmons, public information officer for Richmond County Schools. “The support for our past drives has been wonderful. It is our hope that everyone who can will come out to Wal-Mart, make purchases and help us fill up the school bus.”

In addition, Richmond County Schools will once again participate in the “School Tools” drive, but on a smaller scale. Eight local sites will host boxes between August 1 and August 31, and a postal collection will be taken up on August 22. Those who cannot attend the Stuff the Bus drive can still make a contribution, by dropping off school supplies at the School Tools Locations

The sites that will host drop off boxes throughout the month of August are: Ellerbe Town Hall, Rockingham City Hall, Hamlet City Hall, The Richmond County Daily Journal, Hamlet Public Library, Time Warner Cable, Leath Memorial Library and WAYN 900 A.M.

School supplies needed include: 3-Ring Binders, One Subject Notebook(s) Book Bags, Color Pencils, Crayons, Folders (with Pockets), Glue Sticks, Hand Sanitizer, Highlighters, Markers, Notebook Paper, Pencils, Pencil Boxes/Pouches, Rulers, Scissors, Tissue, Writing Tablets, Bound One Subject Notebook, Dry Erase Markers, Erasers, Folders (with Prongs), Graph Paper Index Cards (3x5), Index Tab Dividers. All of these supplies can be given to the Stuff the Bus or School Tools Drives.

For more information about the Stuff the Bus or School Tools drives, please contact The Richmond County Schools Public Relations Office at 910-582-5860.