CULLMAN, Ala. – The United Way of Cullman County’s (UWCC) sixth annual Stuff the Bus campaign, which collected donations of school supplies for area students, came to a close Friday afternoon, and UWCC Executive Director Waid Harbison said he was happy with the results.
“We started out a little bit slow, but because of the community’s overwhelming support we’ve been able to push forward, and in the last two or three days we’ve received a lot of really good donations,” Harbison said.
He acknowledged the local organizations and businesses that stepped up to the plate with the donations, saying, “This morning, Premier Bank (of the South) brought a big truckload of school supplies. Even the guys over at the courthouse and the county commissioner’s office chipped in with a bunch of supplies.”
Harbison talked about the need in the community.
“The amount of kids that were on reduced lunches in our schools was about 20%, between the city and county schools, on average,” he said, “and now it’s like 51% between the city and county schools. Some of the schools, there’s highs like 70% of the kids. If those kids can’t afford lunches, they’re not going to be able to afford school supplies. We just really want to make sure those kids are taken care of.”
Harbison said last year’s campaign brought in about 14,000 items, and he said he expects the number to be around the same this year, if not higher.
“Now the process for the next couple of days is to sort everything out, count it all and get it to the city and county schools,” he explained.
The supplies will go directly to school guidance counselors, ensuring students in need receive the them.
“We really appreciate the community coming out and doing this for six years!” Harbison said.
