According to Merced County Superintendent of Schools Lee Andersen, this year more children than ever are expected to lack the supplies they need to go back to school prepared for success.
"In these challenging economic times, many of our local families do not have the means to purchase school supplies after they have taken care of their basic living expenses," said UC Merced Chancellor Steve Kang. "We are excited to join Rock Da Block and the greater community to provide students with the materials they need to be successful in the classroom and beyond."
UC Merced and Rock Da Block hope to hand out thousands of backpacks during the "Stuff the Bus" school supply drive, which ends Aug. 31.
"This event will give kids a jump start on getting ready for school and will help level the playing field for even our most impoverished families," said Rock Da Block organizer Nellie Muniz Smith. "We encourage those members of the community who can contribute to do so."
Suggested donation items include new backpacks, pencils (No. 2 with eraser), ballpoint pens, crayons (in the box), lined paper, glue sticks, construction paper, erasers, colored pencils and markers, safety scissors, pencil cases, spiral bound notebooks, pocket folders, rulers and protractors, white school glue, three-ring binders, scientific calculators, graph paper, staplers, pencil sharpeners (small), highlighters and hand sanitizer.
Individuals and businesses are encouraged to donate new school supplies in the barrels or boxes at the ongoing collection sites listed below or at school buses located in the parking lot on the day of the drop off events.
Ongoing Collection Sites (during normal business hours)
Board of Supervisors
Merced County Building
2222 M St., Merced
BBVA Compass Bank
3065 G. St., Merced
Christian Life Center
650 East Olive Ave., Merced
Merced City Council
Merced Civic Center
678 West 18th St., Merced
Merced Police Department
611 West 22nd St., Merced
Merced Schools Employees Federal Credit Union
1021 Olivewood Dr., Merced
1935 M St., Merced
101 Bellevue Road, Atwater
1450 South Mercey Springs Road, Los Banos
Mondo Building
1715 Canal St., Merced
Rabobank
2000 M St., Merced
731 East Yosemite Ave., Merced
Drop Off Event Locations
Dates: Aug. 14 and Aug. 21
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Locations:
Merced AAA Insurance parking lot
3065 M St.
Kohl's parking lot at the Merced Mall
Target parking lot at the Merced Mall
Atwater Kmart parking lot
1085 Bellevue Road
Los Banos Target parking lot
1405 West Pacheco Blvd.
Once the school supplies are collected, sorted and stuffed, UC Merced students and staff will help distribute the backpacks to schools throughout the county.
People without the time to shop can make a monetary donation to help with the basic supplies needed. For more information or to make a donation, call (209) 224-1794 or (209) 777-7272.