What Happened to Your 'Stuff the Bus' Scool Supply Donations?

At the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Brandon, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Brandon met to sort the large collection of school supplies it received from a community committed to ensuring that kids in need are outfitted well with a fresh batch of supplies for the new school year.

There, on Aug. 17, Kiwanians gathered to count and sort tables covered with supplies, including pens, pencils, composition books, notebook paper, folders and binders.

Later that day, counselors from area schools were expected to arrive to pick up the supplies for distribution to the students at their schools whose families struggle through tough economic times.

"We started the donation drive the second week in July," said Kiwanian Dustie Amatangelo, the drive's organizer. "We had boxes out in 30 local community businesses."

Earlier on Aug. 17, a collection truck was at Kmart in Brandon, collecting donations as well.

The donations, Amatangelo added, are for schools that are not designated as Title 1, which means they don't have a higher percentage of students who qualify for a free- or reduced-price lunch, based on federal poverty guidelines.

Nevertheless, the schools involved in the collection drive are not immune from the effects of a down economy, and what that means for students who come from families struggling to make ends meet.

"Our donations go to teachers in these schools to have a resource to pull from, for students who show up for school unprepared for classes, whose families have falled on hard times and might not have the money for school supplies," Amatangelo said. "For them it's food on the table and a roof over our heads right now."

Jhulianna Vivar is entering her senior year at Tampa Bay Technical High School, where she is the president of the Key Club. Her club worked with the Kiwanians on the drive and she was at the Cornerstone Baptist Church to help with the sorting of supplies.

"I know when I go shopping for school supplies for myself and my little brother we spend $80, and there are a lot of families out there who can't afford that, even with a tax-free holiday," said Vivar, who lives in Valrico and is a magnet school student in the health academy at Tampa Bay Tech. "By providing these supplies to them we make a big difference for students so they don't have to worry about not having the materials they need for a school project."