Jun 29, 2016 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – Greene County residents will need to “stuff the bus” a little fuller this year.

Barbara Wise, executive director for Greene County United Way, said the stuff the bus campaign, which collects school supplies for Greene County students grades K-12, provided more than 467 backpacks filled with school supplies for children last year. But this year, she anticipates they’ll need more than 500 bags full of supplies because of local people losing their jobs when Emerald Mine closed in November.

“With all of the layoffs and the mine closing, more children in our county are going to need more school supplies and backpacks,” she said.

Wise said this will be the 14th annual event, which is sponsored by First Federal Saving and Loan of Greene County, and will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 10 at the JC Pavilion at the Lion’s Club Park in Franklin Township.

Each year, businesses and individuals gather supplies in yellow plastic tubs provided by United Way, which then gathers the filled containers. Wise said the supplies with be sorted and stuffed age-appropriately into backpacks.

The backpacks will be stuffed on a school bus and students will be able to walk through, pick one they like and exit out the back, Wise said. The Boy Scouts will man the bus.

The students will also get a free lunch that day provided by Summer Food Service Program through Central Greene School District.

There will also be five tables set up with different activities for the children along with free library books.

Wise said she’s getting ready to set up the bins at different businesses so employees can start collecting supplies.

“We help any way we can,” Wise said. “If you could see the smiles on the kids’ faces when they come there to get their backpacks, it’s pretty neat.”

Parents can register their children for backpacks by dialing 211, the 24-hour human services hotline run through United Way.