Salvation Army’s ‘Stuff the Bus for Kids’ event held Saturday at Walmart
The Susanville Salvation Army’s annual Stuff the Bus for Kids campaign lands at Walmart from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 29.
Salvation Army Coordinator Carla McDonald said the need is especially large this year as 150 kids have registered to participate in the program.
During this part of the event, Walmart customers have an opportunity to purchase and donate a variety of school supplies such as notebooks, backpacks, etc. with the idea that the donations can fill a school bus on site. Of course, customers can always make a cash donation.
The school supplies will be given to the children when school starts and then on Sept. 16, the students will be taken on a shopping spree at Walmart.
“We will be at Walmart from 10 to 2 on Saturday,” McDonald said. “We’ll have a school bus there, and it’s our goal to stuff the bus. People buy stuff, and we try to fill that bus with school supplies.”
Less fortunate kids in our community desperately need our help, according to McDonald.
“The big thing is to let people know I have 50 more kids than I budgeted for,” McDonald said, “so the need is really, really great this year. We don’t want to turn any of them away. Along with the school supplies, we’ll also give them haircuts and a $125 shopping spree this year. They’ll get their backpacks and school supplies right before school starts and the same applicants get the shopping spree in September” when the store’s selection of fall clothing is larger.
McDonald said the Salvation Army is also looking for volunteers to come shop with the kids during shopping spree in September.
“They get to go in with somebody from the community,” McDonald said. “They go in, they take the kids shopping and they get to pick what they want for school.”
For more information, call McDonald at the Salvation Army at (530) 257-0314.
