Stuff the Bus Collection is Happening Now!

United Way of Southwest Minnesota (UWSWMN) is seeking new school supplies, financial contributions, and/or disinfecting product donations to help local children start the school year off right. COVID-19 has caused a lot of worry and unknown, but one thing is certain – the need for school supplies will continue to grow. Can you help us Stuff the Bus? Look for the marked collection containers starting July 6th. Collection containers will be in place through July 28th at the following locations:

Marshall Locations:

Service Area Locations:
  • Elysian Chiropractic Center
  • Brad’s Market – Minneota
  • First Lutheran Church
  • Ivanhoe Foods – Ivanhoe
  • HyVee
  • Jim’s Market – Canby
  • Lockwood Motors
  • Jim’s Market – Slayton
  • Marshall Area YMCA
  • Kilowatt Community Center – Granite Falls
  • Menards
  • Larson’s Grocery – Hendricks
  • Minnwest Bank
  • Lyon Lincoln Electric – Tyler
  • St. Stephen Church
  • Minnwest Bank – Tracy  
  • UWSWMN
  • Sanford Canby Medical Center – Canby  
  • Walmart
  • Tim’s Food Pride – Dawson
 

 

The collected supplies and backpacks will be distributed to participating schools within the UWSWMN service area. School staff ensures the supplies reach those who need support. In 2019, nearly 4,000 students at 24 schools were helped through the initiative and a record breaking 67,560 school supplies were distributed. The community need continues to grow for this valuable effort. Supplies will be sorted and distributed on August 5th, and those in need of supplies should contact their respective school district beginning on August 6th for details regarding distribution.

If you are unable to donate supplies, but would like to contribute financially, you may mail checks to: United Way of SWMN, P.O. Box 41, Marshall, MN 56258. Please note “Stuff the Bus” on the memo line. You may also donate online by visiting www.unitedwayswmn.org/STB. Additionally, you can text “STB2020” to 313131 to make a financial contribution. Financial donations are accepted year round for this project and allow us to purchase school supplies in bulk at a low cost.

If you’re in the Marshall area on Thursday, July 23rd, make sure to stop by HyVee from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.! We will be set up with Marshall Radio for our Stuff the Bus Summer Event, sponsored by Vast Broadband. If you stop by and donate new school supplies, you’ll receive a freeze pop. You won’t even have to get out of your vehicle!

Stuff the Bus is coordinated by UWSWMN and includes public, private, and charter schools in the UWSWMN service area. Generous support from the community also makes this annual initiative successful. Multiple churches, organizations, businesses, and employee groups also collect supplies and financial donations. Thank you to everyone that helps make this a success!

School supplies most needed this year are basic headphones, disinfecting wipes, dry erase markers, and hand sanitizer. Other needed school supplies include backpacks, colored pencils, crayons, washable markers, rulers, and scissors. Please contact United Way for more information at unitedway@unitedwayswmn.org or 507-929-2273. Those interested in volunteering for Stuff the Bus can sign up online by clicking the Volunteer Tab on the UWSWMN website at www.UnitedWaySWMN.org. Thank you for helping us Stuff the Bus!