United Way of 1000 Lakes is gearing up for its annual Stuff the Bus school supply drive and is calling on local businesses, churches, and community organizations to join the effort by hosting collection drives.

From July 14 through August 27, participating host partners will collect essential back-to-school items—such as backpacks, notebooks, pencils, glue sticks, and scissors—for students in need across Itasca County and surrounding communities, including Bigfork, Cohasset, Coleraine, Deer River, Grand Rapids, Hill City, and Warba.

As families face the growing financial burden of rising prices, Stuff the Bus helps ease the cost of school supplies, ensuring students start the school year ready to learn. The initiative supports United Way’s broader commitment to Ready Kids, Resilient Families, one of the organization’s four key impact areas.

Since 2021, more than 989 backpacks filled with school supplies—valued at over $50,000—have been distributed to students from kindergarten through high school, thanks to the generosity of community partners and donors.

New in 2025: Yanmar Arena Partnership

To accommodate the program’s continued growth, United Way is launching a new partnership with Yanmar Arena, which will host a series of Stuff the Bus events on August 25–26, culminating in a community backpack pickup day on August 27.

Hosting a Collection Drive

Hosting a drive is simple. United Way provides host partners with marketing materials, collection tips, supply lists, and support throughout the campaign. Collection drives can take place in offices, lobbies, breakrooms, storefronts, or places of worship—anywhere groups gather and want to give back.

Interested organizations can learn more and sign up to host a drive at uwlakes.org/stuff-the-bus. Monetary donations are also welcome and will be used to purchase supplies in bulk at reduced cost.

For more information, contact Molly Hiipakka at molly@uwlakes.org or (218) 999-7570.