Bridging the gap with donations from Stuff the Bus

FINDLAY — It's less than a month before school starts, and the community's help is requested to get students in need the supplies to succeed. Stuff the Bus, the annual school supply collection sponsored by WFIN-AM and WKXA-FM, will be held July 23 and 24. Hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days, at 1921 Tiffin Ave. There's a definite need for this program, said Tammy Stahl, executive director of Christian Clearing House, the agency in charge of distribution. "People are having to make decisions. Things are so tight and so expensive," she said. In past years, the price for a backpack and supplies was about $75, Stahl said. "Everything has just gone up so much, I'm really concerned on what the prices are going to be when we start getting out to the stores," she said. New, unused supplies of all types are needed, including backpacks, scissors, glue sticks, crayons (Crayola crayons are preferred), markers, notebook paper, pencils, pens, ear buds/headphones, binders, Ziploc bags, hand sanitizer and new socks. A complete list can be found on the agency's website at cchsupport.org Monetary donations are also accepted to purchase supplies, Stahl said. The biggest need is for backpacks. Donations can be made at cchsupport.org, Venmo Christianclearinghouse, or checks can be mailed directly to the office at 1800 N. Blanchard St., Suite 107. "We want things to be new," she said. "It's nice to pull that old backpack out of the closet that your kids had, but it's an old backpack that your kids had. We want the kids to feel empowered. We want them to go into a learning environment with a fresh start on the year in all aspects." Donations will continue to be taken on or before July 29. Items can be dropped off at Christian Clearing House office, located in The Family Center. Stahl said Stuff the Bus has grown since its first collection in 2007 when it aided about 300 children. Last year, more than 1,300 students were helped, she said. "That's a lot of backpacks. And this community is amazing because they have surrounded us every single year," she said. Volunteers are needed to help fill the backpacks, Stahl said. A signup is available at cchsupport.org Registration to receive supplies begins Tuesday on the Christian Clearing House website. Parents will be required to input a Social Security number for each child. All families needing assistance must be residents of Hancock County. Stahl said all supplies and donations stay local. Christian Clearing House will also provide funds for Project Happy Feet, which provides kids with a new pair of back-to-school shoes. The first 700 children who register will receive a $60 voucher good for one pair of shoes at Shoe Sensation or Gabès. The agency is collaborating with local churches to provide new socks. About 15% of the people in Hancock County are living at or below poverty guidelines, according to information provided on the agency's website. And the average cost of having a child return to school is $864, not including school clothes/shoes. Distribution is moving back to The Family Center this year which will be easier for families with the central location. Those families unable to preregister will still be able to receive school supplies at the CCH office beginning Aug. 3 (while donations last or until city and county schools begin classes).