Stuff the Bus: How 60,000 School Supplies Find Their Way to Students

Aug 21

This year, more than 60,000 school supplies were collected and distributed to students and teachers across West Michigan through Stuff the Bus. Behind those backpacks, boxes, and bins of pencils, notebooks, and crayons is a massive effort fueled by thoughtful planning, dedicated people, and strong community partnerships.

Planning: The Roadmap to Success

Stuff the Bus doesn’t happen overnight—it begins months before the first donation is dropped off. Planning starts in the spring with our media partner, WZZM, their Community and Program Manager, Catherine Behrendt.

Our account managers and volunteer center team members then reach out to businesses across West Michigan, inviting them to become collection sites. At the same time, logistics for the Blitz Day are mapped out—everything from bus routes and pick-up schedules to volunteer coordination and staff assignments across Allegan, Kent, and Ottawa Counties.

Once the donations roll in, buses packed with supplies make their way to a warehouse space provided by Santa Claus Girls. There, teams of volunteers spend two full days unpacking, sorting, counting, and preparing supplies. It’s a carefully choreographed process designed to make sure every pencil, notebook, and backpack is accounted for and ready for delivery. Thank you to Pro-Low Moving for transporting hundreds of backpacks to Allegan.

Power: The Manpower Behind the Mission

The true energy behind Stuff the Bus comes from the volunteers who give their time and talent. From unloading buses to counting supplies and packing boxes, their hands-on effort ensures thousands of students start the school year with what they need to succeed.

This year, creativity and enthusiasm stretched even further. Companies came up with fun ways to boost donations—hosting friendly competitions between departments, challenging other businesses, and offering incentives to staff and customers. Some even built handcrafted displays to collect supplies!

It’s the power of community, multiplied.

Partnerships: Driving Change Together

At its heart, Stuff the Bus is about partnerships. WZZM amplifies the campaign through its media reach, with special thanks to Todd Wenzel for sponsoring the promotion on WZZM. More than 70 businesses engage employees and customers in giving, and transportation is made possible thanks to Kentwood Public Schools and Dean Transportation, who provide buses and drivers for collections.

We utilize partnerships with area districts and organizations to identify the greatest need for schools and students who need supplies most. They determine receiving schools by working closely with the school’s staff members, the McKinney Vento Homeless Liaisons and looking at Free and Reduced Lunch Rates, and existing community partnerships.