Stuff the Bus and Support Local Students This School Year

Jul 10, 2025

Back-to-school season should be filled with excitement, fresh notebooks, and hopeful anticipation for the year ahead. But for many families in our community, it’s a time of added stress. Rising costs make it difficult to afford even the most basic school supplies — and that’s where we can come together to help.

This year, The Salvation Army is proud to host a Stuff the Bus event at our local Walmart in Roscoe, IL, to ensure that every child in our area starts the school year with the necessary tools to succeed.

Why It Matters

Right now, 1 in 5 people in the Rockford area lives in poverty, and 22 percent of local children are growing up in households that struggle to make ends meet. That means thousands of kids are showing up to class without the notebooks, backpacks, pencils, and essentials they need — simply because their families can't afford them.

We know times are tough. But we also know that when our community comes together, incredible things happen.

Here’s How You Can Help Stuff the Bus:

Date: Thursday, August 7
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Walmart, Roscoe, IL (4781 E Rockton Rd)

What to Do:

  • Shop for school supplies — choose from our suggested list or pick out your own.
  • Drop your donations into the Salvation Army collection bins at the front of the store.
  • Know that your generosity is giving a child the confidence to start the school year strong.

Every backpack, notebook, and pencil donated helps lighten the load for a struggling family — and makes a real difference in a child's education.

Let’s Give Local Students the Strong Start They Deserve

When we Stuff the Bus, we’re doing more than collecting supplies. We’re showing our students that their community believes in them. That they matter. That they’re not alone.

Join us on August 7 and help ensure every child walks into school confident, prepared, and ready to learn.


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