Back-to-school shopping is a late-summer ritual for parents, but many families in Natrona County struggle to afford the basics for their kids and the annual "Stuff The Bus" project is currently underway to help. Since 2011, the Casper Area Education Foundation has partnered with the Natrona County School District and the Casper Salvation Army partner for "Stuff The Bus", which helps those families gather what they need to start the year off right.

"Last year we assisted about 650 students that needed school supplies, which was an increase of about 200 from the year before," said Tanya Southerland with NCSD, "so we definitely appreciate the generosity of our community coming forward to help these kiddos get ready and excited for back-to-school."

According to the Foundation, parents spent between $60 and $100 each year per child to provide them with the requested and necessary school supplies. The "Stuff the Bus" project encourages the community to donate these simple school supplies, which will be distributed later in August to families identified by The Salvation Army and NCSD.

The needed supplies include:

  • #2 pencils
  • Boxed Crayons
  • Highlighters
  • Sharpies
  • Colored Pencils
  • Markers
  • Dry Erase Markers
  • 3-Ring Binders
  • Safety Scissors
  • Erasers
  • Notebook Paper
  • Glue Sticks and White School Glue
  • Spiral and Composition Notebooks
  • Backpacks
  • Plastic Supply Boxes

You can also pick up a supply list for any school at a local store, or find them HERE.

The drop-off locations this year include Foxhill Apartments, LLC Sunsations Tanning Salon, Reliant Federal Credit Union, Platte Valley Bank, and Keefe's Flowers, as well as the NCSD Central Services Office at 970 N. Glenn Road in Casper.

You can also make a cash donation online at casperedfoundation.org.

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