The upcoming school year is approaching and United Way Emerald Coast is on a mission to help students in Okaloosa & Walton Counties have the best first day of school with their Stuff The Bus event.
Stuff the Bus helps local students get the tools they need for the upcoming school year. In 2021, United Way collected nearly $15,000 worth of supplies, impacting over 10,000 students in 53 schools across Okaloosa & Walton counties.
“Without our community’s generosity, students would lack the supplies they need to be successful during the school year,” said Kelly Jansen, United Way Emerald Coast.
Here’s the plan:
United Way will be at the following locations on July 30, 2022 from 8am-4pm for the community to drop-off school supply donations. You’ll be able to take advantage of Florida’s tax-free weekend and add a few extra school supplies to your cart, or give a monetary donation so our local schools can utilize bulk discounts.
- Walmart – Crestview (3351 S Ferdon Blvd)
- Walmart – Fort Walton Beach (748 Beal Pkwy NW)
- Walmart – Niceville (1300 E John Sims Pkwy E)
“As part of our community support program, Okaloosa Gas District is proud to partner with United Way Emerald Coast to Stuff the Bus to benefit students throughout Okaloosa and Walton counties,” said Jenni Brunson, Public Relations Specialist, Okaloosa Gas. “This program has an extraordinary impact for thousands of students in portions of our service area. Our office locations are accepting donations during normal business hours and we are excited to see the successful result of this year’s event.”
School Supply Wish List
“Any help that you can give to allow our students to have their own individual supplies would be greatly appreciated,” said Marcus Chambers, Superintendent of Okaloosa County School District. “I want to thank United Way and the many community sponsors who make a difference in the lives of our students by giving them the much needed supplies that they need each and every day.”
Most needed supplies include:
- Crayons
- Colored Pencils
- Washable Markers
- Dry Erase Markers
- Folders
- Backpacks
- #2 Pencils
- Glue Sticks
- Notebooks
- Composition Notebooks
- Loose Leaf Paper
Donation Sites
Do you already have school supplies to donate? Now through July 30, you can visit a participating business to drop off your donation of school supplies ahead of the main event.
Crestview:
- Okaloosa Gas
- Regions Bank
- CCB Bank
DeFuniak Springs:
- Regions Bank
Destin:
- Warren Averett
- LULU’s
- Destin Chamber of Commerce
- Trustmark
- Regions Bank (all locations)
Freeport:
- Regions Bank
Fort Walton Beach:
- Okaloosa Gas
- Harley Davidson
- Regions Bank
- Warren Averett
- UPS
- University West Florida FWB
Niceville:
- Okaloosa Gas (Valparaiso)
- Synovus (Bluewater Bay)
- Regions Bank
- CCB Bank
Paxton:
- Regions Bank
