United Way starts its annual back to school drive

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - United Way partnered with Walmart to hold it annual back to school drive, Stuff the Bus. The event aims to help kids in need get school supplies.

The event started Friday and will conclude on Aug. 7. United Way said with the county’s economic inflation there’s no better time to help kids in need as the cost of living continues to increase.

“This is important every year but especially this year we think its really important as the prices of things are going up and those school supplies add up in a hurry and we recognize that,” said Jodi Graves, Executive Director for United Way of South Central Nebraska. “So it’s even more important this year that we can collect those school supplies because we really want all those kiddos to get off and start the school year on the right foot.”

Some suggested items are number-two pencils, folders and highlighters, but all school supplies are accepted as donations.

“All of the school supplies we collect will go to area kids; they all stay local,” Graves said. “We serve four counties Adams, Clay, Nuckolls and Webster. We actually donate them directly to the schools so then the schools can distribute them as they see fit.”

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