‘Stuff the Bus’ 2013 Collects School Supplies for Porter County Children

salvation-army-logoDuring the week of July 15-18, 2013 The Salvation Army bus will be at three locations in Porter County with volunteer representatives present to collect school supplies. We have partnered with the following businesses as drop off locations in each of the three major cities:

  • Monday July 15 STAPLES, Hwy. 30, Valparaiso 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday July 16 STAPLES, Hwy. 30, Valparaiso 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday July 17 KMART, Hwy 49, Chesterton 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Thursday July 18 WALMART, Hwy 6, Portage 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Mondays-Fridays July-Aug. 2nd The Salvation Army, Hwy 6, South Haven 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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 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 school year.

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 or others and then giving them to The Salvation Army volunteer representatives at the collection sites listed. You can also bring the school supplies to 799 Capitol Road on Highway 6 in South Haven, IN. Partners and donors helping The Salvation Army "Stuff the Bus" for needy children in our area this year are the Coca Cola Company, Staples, WalMart, 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 Porter County 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 hundreds of needy children in Porter County. Contact us at The Salvation Army 762-9191 and ask for Kathy.

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.