Stuff the Bus gathers school supplies for Marysville students

The Salvation Army's annual school supply drive will continue through Aug. 15

As the Marysville Salvation Army’s School Supply Drive is nearing its ending, volunteers headed out for a ‘Stuff the Bus’ campaign on Aug. 6.

Volunteers were at local Walmart stores to collect more donations as part of the day.

The annual drive collects supplies for families in need to help kids before the new school year starts.

“We don’t want any kid to worry about school supplies,” said Jenny Roodzant, social services coordinator for the Marysville Salvation Army. “We want them to have a firm foundation so they have all of their needs met and they can just focus on school."

Volunteers said they were glad to come out to help encourage donations for the day.

“There’s a need for school supplies. The kids are hurting and I don’t want to see the kids hurt, so anytime they ask me to help out, I try,” said volunteer Linn Ness.

The program distributed supplies to more than 700 families last year and Roodzant thinks they may exceed that number this year.

“We’ve already exceeded where we were last year with registration,” she said.

She estimates that up to 900 students could register this year if the current rate continues.

Gas prices, rent inflation and other factors could play a role in families having difficulty affording supplies this year, said Roodzant.

“There is a large influx of families in need and we just want to take that stress off of them. With the price of groceries and gas going up they shouldn’t have to worry about where they’re going to get their school supplies,” she said.

Donations have also come in slowly throughout the event.

“I hate to say that, but it is slow,” said Roodzant.

Although the donations do tend to increase as the summer wanes and the new school year is closer, she said.

The drive is scheduled to end on Aug. 15 and donations can still be made at Salvation Army barrels around town in various locations such as the Salvation Army, Fred Meyer, Allen Creek Dentistry, HomeStreet Bank, Heritage Bank, Coastal Community Bank, Realty One, Marysville City Hall or the Marysville Library.

Online registries are also available for Walmart at bit.ly/walmartmsvlregistry or at Amazon at bit.ly/amazonmsvlregistry.

Families that need help are welcome to register for school supplies at bit.ly/schoolsupplieshelp.

If the program has additional backpacks and supplies left, they also plan to host a booth at the Marysville School District’s Welcome Back to School event on Aug. 25 where families can receive supplies, said Roodzant.

She wanted to thank everyone that comes together for the drive each year.

“I love all the partners we have and getting together every year,” she said. “We couldn’t do any of this without the community support.”