Time to ‘Stuff the Bus’ for Cayman’s students
A young one helps to ‘Stuff the Bus’
(CNS Local Life): A Cayman company is once again asking members of the public to “Stuff the Bus” with school supplies to help bridge the gap between what families can afford and what students need for the upcoming school year. The goal of Caribbean Alliance Insurance’s annual initiative is to fill a yellow school bus with donations such as backpacks, notebooks, crayons, pens, pencils and lunch kits.
Last year’s initiative collected 3,738 items for various charities. The recipients for this drive will be the Department of Children and Family Services, the Needs Assessment Unit, the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre and the Special Needs Foundation, which will distribute the supplies to families with children requiring assistance.
The Department of Education estimates that the average family in Cayman will spend $350 on back-to-school supplies, an amount that many low-income families cannot afford.
This year Caribbean Alliance has partnered with Cost-U-Less to help increase the number of donations. A special Stuff the Bus school supply area will be on display inside the bulk retailer’s store and live events with the insurance company and members of the designated charities will be held there on the weekends.
“There are many ways the community can ensure that children less fortunate have everything they need to succeed in the new school year,” said Aleisha Lalor, Cayman Islands branch manager of Caribbean Alliance. “And this year, thanks to like-minded partnerships with the management team of Cost U Less, our school supply drive is on track to being bigger and better than ever and we hope that our combined efforts equip even more children with the tools and materials they need to start the school year off right.”
The donation drive will run from 31 July to 19 August. Anyone who wants to donate supplies can purchase the items and drop them off at boxes inside Cost-U-Less or at the Caribbean Alliance office in Alissta Towers on North Sound Road.
The following is a list of supplies being collected for children ranging in age from 6-16:
- Pencil pouches
- Pencil erasers
- #2 pencils
- Short-length school scissors
- Blue or black pens
- Glue sticks
- 24-packs of crayons
- Wide-rule single-subject notebooks
- Markers
- 150-page wide-rule packs of loose leaf paper
- 12-packs of coloured pencils
- Pocket folders
For more information on Stuff the Bus or to organise a mini-collection, go to the initiative’s Facebook page or call Caribbean Alliance at 949-9744
