Fundraising begins for stuff-a-bus campaign | News, sports, jobs

STEUBENVILLE – Collections will get underway as Steubenville City Schools kicks off its annual Stuff-a-Bus Christmas campaign on Friday.

Officials have been organizing the event for almost a decade and have given hundreds of district children the happiest holiday. Amy Colantoni, public relations and fundraising specialist at SCS, started the project in 2017 and has returned to organize this year’s efforts.

“We’re having stuff-a-bus on December 3, which coincides with National Day of Giving,” Colantoni said. “It will start at 9:30 a.m. outside the high school with a ribbon cutting and leaders and sponsors from the region will be invited to attend.”

The Big Red Marching Band will perform and student volunteers will help fill a school bus with donated gift items. The bus will travel to all six district schools and participating locations to collect all the gifts. In the meantime, the collection begins Friday and anyone interested can drop off donations to a district school or event sponsor. Colantoni added that the community has been extremely friendly, helping about 235 Steubenville children in recent years.

“We are so grateful for the community partners who are helping spread the holiday cheer by donating generously. This event aims to fill a school bus with gifts that will be provided to families in need this season.” she continued.

The district’s six schools and thirteen sponsors – including companies – have been involved. Figures show that 79 families were supported and almost 1,800 items were collected. Gifts may include toys, personal hygiene items, sports or athletic equipment such as basketballs and footballs, board games, baby dolls, LEGOS, clothing, jackets and winter accessories such as hats, scarves and gloves. The gifts are selected based on the age and gender of the child and can be delivered to the schools until November or the day of the stuff-a-bus activity. They will then be sorted and distributed the week of December 16, just in time for Christmas.

“It’s nice to work with construction directors and staff because they know their families. This even involves students who can help organize things or pack everything. In recent years, the global logistics and supply chain management class has helped map out routes so that we can manage our time efficiently and effectively.”

Colantoni said officials travel within a 15-mile radius to distribute the gifts so children and their families can enjoy the Christmas season. She thanked the district administration, administration and schools for their support and said it was a team effort to make the project successful.

“It really is a team collaboration. I think Christmas is about making a difference, and there is no greater feeling than being able to help.”

Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor and helping their school community can contact Colantoni at (740) 282-9741, extension 7113, or by email at [email protected].

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