60 students in the Castroville Summer Bridge Pre-K program, funded by UWMC, received backpacks through Stuff the Bus. Thanks to the generosity of the Life CYCLE self-help group at the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad, these young students now have the tools they need to keep up in class. This year, our goal is to gather enough backpacks and supplies for 3,000 children. We're counting on you to be a champion for Stuff the Bus by spreading the word to your colleagues and friends about the 7th Annual Stuff the Bus.
$20 buys a fully stocked backpack. Please donate today. Why it's important:
- There are more than 8,200 Kindergarten through 12th grade students who are homeless or in great need in Monterey County.
- The number of students who are homeless is on the rise in our county - it has more than tripled since our first Stuff the Bus drive in 2011.
- These students often struggle in school – of homeless elementary students, only 23% are proficient in reading and 14% in math. Many drop out without earning a high school degree.
- Equipping students for the school year is expensive and a big burden for families that are already struggling financially. In 2015, families spent on average more than $350 on back-to-school necessities, including almost $100 on school supplies alone.