In preparation for the upcoming school year, United Way of 1000 Lakes is seeking donations of backpacks and school supplies as part of the annual Stuff the Bus drive.

Now through August, Walmart and Target Grand Rapids locations will be accepting donations of school supplies.

A push to fill the bus will be held in the Target parking lot on August 8th (3-7 p.m.) and August 13th (10 a.m.-2 p.m.), with a final packing party on August 15th (4-6 p.m.) at Klockow Brewing Co., where volunteers will pack donated supplies into backpacks in accordance with each schools’ supply lists.

Volunteers are needed to assist with collecting, inventorying, individually packing, and distributing the backpacks to students.

To learn more and sign up, visit Bonfire, the Itasca area’s volunteer platform, at volunteer.uwlakes.org or contact United Way staff at 218-999-7570.