United Way

Time to 'Stuff the Bus' to help supply schools

Anthony Dake
Staff Writer
The Daily Post-Athenian

The United Way of McMinn and Meigs Counties is again asking local residents for help in "stuffing the bus" to provide school supplies for children in need. The event will be held during Tennessee's tax-free weekend, just before the new school year starts.

The third annual "Stuff the Bus" weekend is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 7, and Saturday, Aug. 8, in conjunction with local retailers Wal-Mart, Kmart and Staples. In past years, the United Way event has been very successful, providing approximately 8,000 items each year to local schools, including those in the Athens, Etowah, McMinn and Meigs County systems. This year, Executive Director Stephanie Linkous has set a goal of 10,000 items.

"This year's need is greater than the last," she said. "If everyone can just donate a few items, we can make that goal easily."

Buses will be parked outside the three large retailers on Friday, Aug. 7, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday, Aug. 8, from 9 to 5. Lists of needed items can be found inside each of the three stores.

Athens Regional Medical Center and Woods Memorial Hospital will be providing health screenings at Kmart and Wal-Mart during the event.

Members of the Athens Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club, the Optimist Club, McMinn County Education Foundation, BB&T personnel and United Way staffers and volunteers will be at each of the stores taking up collections.

According to a Wal-Mart representative at a recent Stuff the Bus meeting, prepackaged bags of items and collection bins will be set up inside the store at all times during the tax-free weekend so customers can donate easily.

"We are also encouraging businesses to set up bins to allow people or employees to donate," Linkous said.

Any business wishing to participate can call the United Way office at 745-9606 for more information.