School supplies sought for students

SANDUSKY — Even though summer break just started, it's not too early to start thinking about purchasing school supplies for area children in need. The annual Stuff the Bus campaign for Erie and Huron counties returns for yet another year, a coordinated effort to ensure students have what they need to succeed. Overseen by VacationLand Federal Credit Union and the Sandusky Mall, the campaign relies upon many local businesses, organizations and community members to support youth. Now open for registration, this program offers free backpacks and school supplies to local students entering grades K-8 whose families are experiencing financial hardships. More specifically, it helps out students enrolled in all Erie County schools and various ones in Huron County: Bellevue, Monroeville, New London, South Central, Willard and St. Francis Xavier. On a related note, Norwalk and St. Paul operate their separate Stuff the Bus campaigns. In 2025, nearly 800 stuffed backpacks were provided to local students in need. Organizers hope to at least match this number, relying on volunteers and support it receives from partner organizations, businesses, nonprofits and other area entities. "Our goal is to help ease the financial stress families face in today's economy by providing students with the tools they need to start a successful, new school year," said Heather Gilchrist, VacationLand's assistant vice president of marketing who helps supervise this campaign. How to sign up? Each backpack is packed with essentials tailored by grade level. Students in grades: • K-5 will receive basics like pencils, crayons, markers, scissors and glue, among other items. • 6-8 will be supplied with pens, folders, notebooks and other age-appropriate items, among other items. Backpacks will be distributed through the students' school, and families will be notified when pick-up is scheduled. Families are still responsible for any additional supplies not covered by the program. To participate, families must register by Sunday, July 26. Registration can be completed at vlfcu.org/stuffthebus or by scanning the QR code provided by a student's home district. For those preferring paper, forms can be submitted by mail or email. People can visit the Sandusky-area VacationLand Federal Credit Union branch, 2911 Hayes Ave. (Ohio 4), or email hgilchrist@vlfcu.org for more information. What can be donated? Area residents are invited to donate new school supplies. The committee is looking for these needed items: • Backpacks • No. 2 pencils • Pencil boxes • Crayola crayons • Crayola markers • Pens: blue, black or red • Colored pencils • Markers • Highlighters • Three-ring binders • Glue bottles and sticks • Scissors • Pink erasers • Folders • Pencil boxes and pouches • Wide-ruled and college-ruled paper, looseleaf or spiral • Composition books The campaign will conclude on Monday, Aug. 3 to allow the committee and volunteers enough time to organize donations, stuff the backpacks and deliver the supplies to schools. Monetary donations are also being accepted for backpacks and school supplies. Checks can be made payable to the Sandusky Bay Kiwanis Community Service Corp. and mailed to: • VacationLand Federal Credit Union • ATTN: Marketing • 2911 Hayes Ave. • Sandusky, OH 44870 People can learn more by visiting vlfcu.org/supportstuffthebus. Questions about the program can be answered by email at hgilchrist@vlfcu.org. Where to donate items? Here's where people can drop off school supplies for the Stuff the Bus campaign: Bellevue • Bassett's Market, 228 W. Main St. • Chloe's Pit Stop, 1050 Castalia St. Huron • Ideal Chiropractic, 358 North Main St. • VacationLand Federal Credit Union, 2402 University Drive • Valley Ford of Huron, 55 Cleveland Road E. (U.S. 6) New London • Firelands Electric Cooperative, 103 Industrial Drive Norwalk • Fisher-Titus, 272 Benedict Ave. • VacationLand Federal Credit Union, 26 Executive Drive Sandusky • Brumbaugh Law Firm, 1907 E. Perkins Ave. • Edward Jones, 710 W. Perkins Ave. • Grace Episcopal Church, 315 Wayne St. • Parkvue Community, 3800 Boardwalk Blvd. • Perkins Township Police Department, 2610 Columbus Ave. • Sandusky Library, 114 W. Adams St. • Sandusky Mall, customer service desk, 4314 Milan Road (U.S. 250) • Stefano Dental, 1617 W. Bogart Road • Texas Roadhouse, 4314 Milan Road (U.S. 250) • VacationLand Federal Credit Union, 2409 E. Perkins Ave. • VacationLand Federal Credit Union, 2911 Hayes Ave. (Ohio 4) • Work Space Sandusky, 1521 E. Perkins Ave. Vermilion • VacationLand Federal Credit Union, 1607 State Road (Ohio 60), Suite 11 Willard • Mercy Health Willard Hospital, 1100 Neal Zick Road