Stuff the Bus: Delivering Local Support to Every Elementary School
The start of a new school year is full of possibility, but it also comes with a long checklist—backpacks, pencils, notebooks, calculators, and countless classroom essentials. For many families and teachers, gathering all those supplies can be overwhelming. That’s where Stuff the Bus steps in.
This summer, United Way of Greater Central Michigan worked to garner support from businesses, organizations, and individuals across our four-county region to make a big impact. From the beginning of July, we worked to secure sponsorships for every elementary school in Gratiot, Ionia, Isabella, and Montcalm counties. The result? All 57 elementary schools in our region received a donation to kick off the school year!
Driving from school to school to deliver goodie bags filled with supplies and donations was a highlight of the campaign. Tiffany Eisenberger, Resource Development Manager at United Way of Greater Central Michigan, shared: “We are so grateful to everyone who donated to make this year’s Stuff the Bus campaign such a success. It was truly rewarding to visit each school and personally deliver supplies and donations. This initiative is powered by the generosity of our community who believe in supporting teachers and students, and together we made sure every classroom in our region started the year off strong.”
The success of this year’s Stuff the Bus campaign wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible generosity of our community. We are proud to recognize the following partners for stepping up to sponsor schools/classrooms and invest in local education: Alma St. Louis Rotary, BetterLife Bannister ZCBJ 225, Charles R. Barker Jr., DO, Family Practice, Greenville Flooring & Mattress LLC, Herbruck's Poultry Ranch, Isabella Bank, Kiwanis Club of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan One Credit Union, Mt. Pleasant Jaycees, Optimist Club of Mt. Pleasant, Powell Fabrication & Manufacturing LLC, Thermal-Tec Roofing, and Tribal Operations - Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.
While the bus may be unpacked for this year, the work of supporting students and teachers never truly ends. United Way engages with schools year-round through programs and initiatives like Coins for a Cause, Read United, Literacy Kits, and PITCH-ER THIS! Youth Venture Competition, ensuring students have ongoing opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive.
Want to see the smiles firsthand? View photos from our school deliveries here.
