St. Johns ‘Stuff the Bus’ helps underprivileged prepare for the school year

• Clinton County’s ‘Stuff the Bus’ event helps students prepare for the new school year.
• Neighbors in the area donated folders, binders, markers, backpacks and more to help other neighbors in need.
• Video footage shows the bus being filled with supplies for the start of the school year and stories from people in the community.

(Below is a transcript of the full broadcast story)

I’m your neighborhood reporter, Russell Shellberg, here in St. Johns. At first glance, this may just look like a bus, but step inside and you’ll discover how it’s transforming the educational experience for students in Clinton County.

Some of our neighbors know that going back to school is a challenge for others.

“Kids have a lot of needs at school, so give back and help out where you can,” said resident Mike Mullen

On Wednesday, volunteers from CAN Council, Caring and Sharing Family Life Services, St. Johns Kroger and community members helped fill a bus full of school supplies for people in need across the county. Director Marie Barks says they are helping 250 families with supplies this year.

“When kids go to school, they see their friends sitting next to them, they have a nice pack of crayons or pencils, and another kid doesn’t have that. It makes them sad and can be stressful,” said Marie Barks, executive director of the CAN Council.

The other stressful aspect of this year is the increase in supply prices.

“Families don’t have that in their budget. They’re worried about putting food on the table and a roof over their heads, and school supplies are extra,” Barks said.

An extra that resident Scott Taylor is happy to contribute.

“It may not be my kids that they’re going to, it’s someone else’s kids. And I think that means just as much to a parent as it does to the person giving it away,” Taylor said

Another reason Kroger Assistant Manager Brandon O’Berry says they’re honored to participate.

“It’s really nice to feel like we’re part of the culture, part of the community, that we’re doing these kinds of things,” O’berry said.

Barks says the backpacks will be filled later this week and distributed to our neighbors in need.

Want to see more local news? Visit the FOX47 News website.

Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.

Sign up for newsletters sent by email to your inbox.

Select from the following options: Local News, Current News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines, and Daily Forecasts.

follow us on twitter

Like us on Facebook