The MyCityCare stuff the bus for back to school campaign needs donations. School supplies such as crayons, markers, binders and notebooks can be dropped off at many locations throughout the city until the end of the month.
“We need everything — we only have enough right now fill about half of the demand that’s coming in, so we would love to get as many more donations as possible for the actual physical school supplies or monetary donations would be huge,” said Jennifer Tribble, executive director of MyCityCare. She added there are enough backpacks, but not supplies to fill them with.
“We would love to see the community help out because at this point we’re at the place where we are probably going to cap registrations and there’s several more days the registrations are open, but we are seeing just such a huge need,” she said.
Drop off locations include the MyCityCare office, Mastermind Toys, Staples, both Lethbridge food banks, the YMCA, Health First Chiropractic, Unique Beauty, DieselR, Fresh Life Chiropractic, El Greco, Busy Butterflies Daycare and Hickory Street.
This is the sixth year the organization has run the program and Tribble says there is higher demand and fewer donations.
MyCityCare has partnered with Ready, Set, Go for the campaign, which aims to give brand new school supplies to families who otherwise may not be able to afford them.
The campaign includes a fair where families will pick up supplies and there will be other services and activities for children, including burgers and free haircuts.
Tribble said volunteers are needed to help hand out the supplies and pack the backpacks.
Stuff the Bus will happen Aug. 22 at the YMCA, Aug. 23 at CASA and Aug. 24 at the Rotary Picnic Shelter.
-With files from Laura Briggs