2019 Stuff the Bus has come to an end in Geary County. United Way Director Nichole Mader issued a thank you to the community for the hard work and support that provided more than 7,000 items to USD 475 and St. Xavier schools.

United Way also handed out more than 500 backpacks to students in Geary County, including 90 from the Adopt-A-Backpack program. That means individuals, businesses, and civic groups adopted 90 backpacks and filled them with everything that a student needed for school.

Mader said more than $2,300 was raised to support Stuff the Bus. The money went to purchase more supplies and backpacks for students. Any amount left over will be used for headphones through the school district or to purchase backpacks for next year.

Adopt-A-Backpack is a new offset of Stuff the Bus. Parents / Guardians can apply for assistance through United Way of Junction City / Geary County. Once a child is submitted for an Adopt-A-Backpack, that child’s specific shopping list is pulled, and a backpack is provided with all the child’s academic needs. This is an income based program.

Stuff the Bus will kick off again in July of 2020.