The Salvation Army's 'Stuff the Bus' event aims to collect supplies for students in need

The Salvation Army is gearing up to host its “Stuff the Bus” event with area Walmart stores, an effort to collect new school supplies for the upcoming school year.

From Friday through Sunday , collection bins will be set up at the front of participating Walmart stores where shoppers can place supplies that will go to students in Western Pennsylvania.

“So many kids struggled last year and we’re just so excited to support them … and really just try to get back to some normalcy,” said Salvation Army Major Jodi Lloyd, program secretary for The Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania division.

In 2019, The Salvation Army collected almost 28,600 school supplies across Western Pennsylvania for families and children in need.

According to The Salvation Army website, in a normal year, parents must often choose between buying school supplies or food, with one in five children living in poverty. The covid-19 pandemic placed an extra burden on families across the country who are experiencing lost wages or possible evictions, the site reads.

“This year, more than most, making sure students feel prepared to succeed is vital,” the website reads. “That’s why The Salvation Army is once again running the Stuff the Bus school supply drive. The school supplies you and The Salvation Army provide will help ensure kids in need start the academic year off right.”

Walmart stores in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties participating in the event include locations in Bethel Park, Carnegie, Salem, Gibsonia, Hempfield, East Huntingdon and Moon. Regional stores, with locations in Beaver, Cambria, Crawford, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Mercer, Somerset and Washington counties, are also participating.

A full list of participating Walmart stores can be found on The Salvation Army website.

According to Stephanie Rex, spokeswoman for The Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania division, bins in previous years were manned by volunteers who also had kettles ready for monetary donations. Beginning last year bins were placed at participating locations without volunteers to help limit face-to-face contact during the pandemic.

In addition to collection bins, online donations are also being accepted by searching for The Salvation Army on Walmart’s Registry for Good website.

According to Lloyd, once the collection period is over, supplies will go back to area Salvation Army locations where they can be picked up by families in need.

“We’re grateful we can continue the ‘Stuff the Bus’ initiative in a modified form,” Rex said.