With over 3,000 children receiving free or reduced lunches in Porter County schools, it is apparent that many families are struggling to meet their own basic needs. The Salvation Army of Porter County is asking for your kind help to get school supplies to as many of these children as possible so that they will have the tools they need to learn. This is the 7th year we have set up a week for applying to the "Stuff the Bus" school supplies Program.
Stuff the Bus is a program for low income families living in Porter County whose children need school supplies for the 2013-2014 school year. (Children must be age 5 by August 1, 2013 and registered to attend a school or be home-schooled). This program is for students in kindergarten through 12th grade (Note: some college students have received supplies in the past when it’s available — ask August 5th).
Applications will be taken July 22nd through 26th from 10:00-11:30am and 1:00-2:30pm. The following items are needed with the person who is applying: 1) A photo ID of adult parent or guardian living in the household. 2) A birth certificate for every child student. 3) Social Security cards for everyone living in the household. 4) Proof of being a Porter County resident (current bill with name and address).
Please help us collect the items needed to send these children back to school equipped to succeed. The school items requested include: pens, pencils, paper, rulers, book bags or backpack, binders, trapper keeper, notebook, folders, crayons, markers, colored pencils, protractor, and calculator. You can help by purchasing school items from our partner stores and then giving them to The Salvation Army volunteer representatives at the collection sites listed. Partners and donors helping The Salvation Army "Stuff the Bus" for needy children in our area this year are the Coca Cola Company, Staples, Wal-Mart, KMart, VFW Porter Memorial Post #2511, House of Berggren and many others. The Salvation Army goal is to send as many of the children in need back to school with the supplies they use to learn. .
Along with purchasing school supplies, other options include placing a check or cash donation in The Salvation Army red kettle at the "Stuff the Bus" site, sending in a donation to TSA "Stuff the Bus" P.O. Box 828, Portage, IN 46368 and we’ll do the shopping for you. You may also contact us directly by bringing in items to The Salvation Army Corps Community Center, 799 Capitol Rd. (on Highway 6, one block west of 149, South Haven) in Valparaiso, Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm. Thank you for your donations and commitment to help the children in Porter County. Contact us at The Salvation Army 762-9191 and ask for Kathy. Target has helped the Army assist 20 students per year with receiving new clothes for the fall in addition to other donors including Staples, KMart, WalMart, Coca Cola and NIPSCO.
Thank you Porter County for your continuous support and volunteer spirit in serving the needs of thousands of our neighbors through the Army. The Social Programs include food pantry, utility, rent, mortgage, medicine, transportation programs, bread and fresh foods distributions, Stuff the Bus School Supplies for Students Program, Summer Camps, the Annual free Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner, Angel Tree Toy & Clothing Program, Adopt-a-Family Program, Christmas & Easter Nursing Home/Shut-in Seniors Gift Program, Christmas Food Program and Youth & Family Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas Parties, Adult Clubs and Worship Services.