The Salvation Army of Okaloosa and Walton Counties will host its “Stuff the Bus” school supply drive from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 25, at the Walmart located at 6712 U.S. 98 W. in Santa Rosa Beach.
- The event invites shoppers to purchase and drop off new school supplies at Salvation Army collection bins at the store. The organization has set a goal of helping 300 students in the two-county area start the school year with the supplies they need.
All donations collected during the drive will stay in the local community, according to the organization. The Salvation Army said the supplies will go toward providing backpacks, notebooks, pencils and other essentials to area children in Okaloosa and Walton counties.
The drive comes as inflation and rising costs continue to strain household budgets, the organization said. Back-to-school expenses have become a heavier burden for families already facing economic hardships, according to the Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army serves nearly 29 million people annually through social services that address poverty, hunger and homelessness, according to the organization.