Rain or shine, members of the Lakeland Kiwanis Club will be in the RP Funding Center’s parking lot from 7 to 9 a.m. Wednesday sorting, organizing and loading thousands of donated school supplies into vehicles to be delivered to 28 local elementary schools.
It’s called the “Stuff the Bus” campaign. The club says it’s the largest back-to-school drive of its kind in Central Florida. And there are three ways area residents can help: by dropping off items, volunteering on Wednesday or making tax-deductible contributions.
Why it matters: Thousands of Polk County students will return to school Monday, but many don’t have access to basic supplies. The donated goods will help students and teachers get the school year off to a strong start.
How it works: For the past two months, big collection boxes with bright yellow graphics have been stationed at businesses, places of worship, doctor’s offices and more. People have filled them with items like backpacks, crayons, notebooks, folders, dry-erase markers and glue sticks.
On Wednesday, these boxes will be unloaded and sorted, along with supplies that Kiwanis has purchased and any last-minute drop-offs. Items will be packaged for each of 28 Lakeland area elementary schools.
The deliveries will be loaded into volunteers’ vehicles. Drivers will then fan out through the city, bringing them to the schools where teachers are working this week setting up their classrooms.
Slight delay: This is the event’s 21st year in Lakeland. It was originally scheduled for Monday morning, but it was postponed due to Hurricane Debby.
Three ways to help
Donate supplies: There are more than two dozen drop boxes throughout Lakeland. They should still be available through Tuesday. Individuals can also bring supplies directly to the RP Funding Center’s purple lot on Wednesday morning.
Volunteer: Kiwanis still needs supply sorters and delivery drivers. Volunteers are asked to register online. The event will begin at 7 a.m. at 404 W. Lime St.
Make a financial contribution: For those who cannot bring supplies, Kiwanis also welcomes secure, tax-deductible online donations or checks mailed to the Lakeland Kiwanis Charitable Foundation, P.O. Box 5146, Lakeland, FL 33807.
‘A great head start’
“The success of this event will ultimately give thousands of students and teachers in Lakeland, and the surrounding community schools, the extra boost to get through the start of the school year with much-needed school supplies,” the Kiwanis website states.
Local businesses help: At Il Forno Restaurant on Thursday afternoon, a large box by the cash register was filling up quickly with backpacks stuffed with paper, pencils and other school supplies. School Board member and Kiwanian Lisa Miller and some of her Kiwanis colleagues were there to thank supporters.
“Lakeland Kiwanis has collected over a $1 million in school supplies for Lakeland elementary schools since the inception of Stuff the Bus,” said Miller. “Kids need Kiwanis and our community steps up to support our schools. Delivering the supplies before school starts helps teachers be prepared for the first day! It’s not all of the supplies needed, but it’s a great head start!”
Clothes are also needed: Other organizations in Lakeland are also gathering items to help kids. First United Methodist Church on Lake Morton has a clothes closet for children in need. It is asking for new or gently used school pants and skirts — children’s sizes 6 to 18 — in khaki, navy blue or blue jeans. It is also accepting regular boys’ clothes.
“We’re dealing with social agencies in Lakeland, Bartow, Winter Haven and Lake Wales,” said Karen Ruthven, a volunteer with FUMC’s clothes closet. “We don’t know who’ll we’ll be serving or what ages they’ll be.”
Ruthven said donations can be dropped off at the church during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, and during church services from 8:30 a.m. until noon on Sundays. Donation boxes are near the bookstore in the welcome center and by the church office. The church’s address is 72 Lake Morton Drive, and the office is located just off East Walnut Street.
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