People are familiar with “Stuff the Bus,” an annual event to collect school supplies for students. While the Riverside County Office of Education doesn’t have a bus, the organization is implementing “Cram the Van with Kindness” to promote its One Million Deliberate Acts of Kindness Initiative with students and families in need as the direct beneficiaries of the drive.
Donors can drop off supplies starting August 12 through September 6 at the three RCOE Offices (3939 13th St., Riverside; 47-110 Calhoun Street, Indio; and 38670 Sky Canyon Drive, Suite 200, Murrieta) and the Early Care and Education Riverside Offices (Almond, Annex, and Beigel). Supplies can be dropped off from 9 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday, until September 6.
Concurrently, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is holding their “Fill the Bus” campaign from August 12 through September 6. Any supplies dropped off at the branches in Riverside County will be donated to RCOE schools. SchoolsFirst FCU has branches in Corona, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Palm Desert, and Riverside.
For a complete list of branch locations and hours, visit schoolsfirstfcu.org/branches. SchoolsFirst FCU is the largest credit union in the country focused on serving school employees and is dedicated to improving the financial lives of its Members. The donated supplies help school personnel fill in those gaps for students of all ages and grades, preschool - 12. Supplies will be distributed on a first come, first served basis to districts with the greatest need as determined by free and reduced lunch rates.
“Kids move all year long, they change schools, they change homes, some of them even change the families that they may be living with and so there is a constant need for supplies,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Judy D. White. Suggested items include the typical pens, pencils, markers, crayons and mechanical pencils, as well as boxes of tissues, hand sanitizers, backpacks, marble composition books, and loose-leaf notebook paper.
RCOE initiated the Riverside County Million Deliberate Acts of Kindness campaign to increase awareness while promoting and inspiring a positive school culture and healthy communities throughout Riverside County. RCOE advocates and measures one million deliberate acts of kindness by students, staff, and the community at large through the Kindness Counter at https://www.rcoe.us/initiatives/kindness/ Individuals who donate to the school supply drive are encouraged to record their act of kindness on the office’s website.