Kiwanians Back Sheriff's School Supplies Drive For Youth In Need

For years the Kiwanis Club of Greater Brandon has "Stuffed the Bus" on behalf of students in local schools whose families can't afford the cost of school supplies. This year, the bus is gone and so, too, the day Kiwanians spent sorting donated school supplies for distribution to educators.

This year, the Kiwanians, who meet weekly on Thursday mornings at Ben's Family Restaurant in Brandon, opted to donate $1,000 to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office's school supplies drive, run by HCSO Charities.

On hand to receive the check Thursday, Aug. 1, was the sheriff himself, Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee, the invited guest of Kiwanian and retired sheriff's office employee Steve Saunders.

"This is not a 'Stuff the Bus' year for us," said Kiwanian Dustie Amatangelo, who for years has run the campaign for the service club. "We decided instead to donate the $1,000 budgeted for 'Stuff the Bus.' We've decided to revamp the program because so many small businesses are doing something to serve the elementary school level."

She said the Kiwanians are hoping to do something later in the fall for students in the middle- and high-school levels, and especially for the younger students.

Generally speaking, "middle schools don't have as strong a PTA as the elementary schools and high schools have their booster clubs," Amatangelo said. "We'd like to help students in the middle."

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RELATED COVERAGE:

• Sheriff's Patrol On The Lookout For Most-Wanted School Supplies

• Sheriff's Office Reaches Out To Local Charities