Community Corner
"Stuff the Bus" to Help Prepare Children for School
The Salvation Army and Walmart are teaming up to collect new school supplies for thousands of children in need.
SHOREWOOD – The cost of backpacks, notebooks, glue sticks, and pencils adds up quickly. The average family in the United States plans to spend $117 per student on school supplies for the upcoming year, according to Deloitte’s 2019 back-to-school survey. For some families in our area, the expense is simply out of reach.
That’s why The Salvation Army is teaming up with Walmart to collect new school supplies for children in Shorewood and communities across the country during a one-day “Stuff the Bus” event on Saturday, August 3.
The Walmart Supercenters in Shorewood and Joliet, as well as more than 40 other stores in the Chicago Metropolitan area, will serve as drop-off sites from 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
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Shoppers at Walmart will receive a list of suggested items to help fill The Salvation Army’s collection bins. Salvation Army officers and volunteers will collect donations at a marked vehicle in front of each store. All donations will be distributed to children in the local community, offering shoppers an opportunity to help their neighbors.
“Many families in our area are forced to make difficult decisions every day,” said Capt. Wendy Faundez, corps officer at The Salvation Army’s Joliet Corps Community Center. “It could be the choice between buying a new backpack and putting food on the table. By donating school supplies, you can help ease the burden on families in your community, and equip children with the tools they need to start the school year off right.”
Find out what's happening in Shorewoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Shoppers who can’t make it to a Walmart store have the option of donating online at https://www.walmart.com/cp/3774807. You can select The Salvation Army corps closest to your home as the recipient, to ensure your contribution stays local.
“Stuff the Bus” is a nationwide event. Approximately 3,000 Walmart locations are participating, including the stores at: 2424 W. Jefferson St., Joliet, and 1401 IL Route 59, Shorewood. For a full list of participating stores, please visit http://salar.my/stuffthebuschi....
