By RYAN SKAITH
St. Joseph Post
The United Way of Greater St. Joseph's annual Stuff the Bus school supplies drive is once again taking place this Friday and Saturday.
Director of Community Investment, Jodi Flurry, says, "This is our biggest one-time volunteer activity every single year. Last year, almost 250 people shared their time by volunteering for Stuff the Bus, helping to collect those school supplies during tax free weekend."
Certain items this weekend are tax free during the Missouri Back to School Sales Tax Holiday.
Flurry says if it weren't for the Stuff the Bus drive, some area students might not have school supplies.
"With cost increases, it gets harder and harder to provide some of those items students need when they go back to school. Through the generosity of our community, we're able to help out a lot of families."
Since 2009, United Way's Stuff the Bus drive has collected and distributed more than 281,000 school supplies to area children, classroom and programs.
Stuff the Bus is accepting donations at both North and South Belt Walmart locations. The items will be distributed through United Way partner agencies and programs.