Stuff the Bus is back! We are incredibly proud to once again partner with United Way of Santa Cruz County this year to supply students experiencing homelessness or financial hardship with the supplies they need to succeed during the upcoming school year.
This year, with your help, we are aiming to donate 3,000 backpacks with new school supplies to Santa Cruz County youth. Each $25 donation will provide one student with a new backpack filled with brand new school supplies – pencils, pens, notebooks, binders, rulers, calculators, and more.
The need is crystal clear. We estimate that there are 3,821 youth who are currently experiencing homelessness or extreme hardship in Santa Cruz County, many of whom simply don’t have the same access to essential school supplies that other students take for granted. The difference those supplies can make in enabling our community’s brilliant youth to achieve their potential cannot be overstated. Last year, COE staff and friends raised $5,000 of the $25,000 in total raised funds, and we’re working to match or exceed that internal goal this year (you can help by donating via the link below). The fundraising campaign runs through Aug. 13, culminating in our annual Stuff-A-Thon.
I also want to give a shoutout to our Project Homeless Coordinator Erika Cortes, who spearheads the COE’s involvement in Stuff The Bus. If you have questions about the project or want to find out how to access a backpack for a student in need, you can contact Erika at ecortes@santacruzcoe.org or 831-466-5666.
Yours in education and equity,
Dr. Faris Sabbah
County Superintendent of Schools