Members of the Gilmer County Optimist Club hope to be busy as Santa’s elves at Christmastime during an upcoming back-to-school event.
The Optimist Club will collect money and school supply donations for their annual Stuff the Bus drive outside the East Ellijay Walmart Friday and Saturday, July 22 and 23, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. both days.
Volunteers will attempt to literally stuff a school bus with supplies, and a bus will be on hand both days to transport the donated items, confirmed Rebecca Harrell, Optimist Club president.
“In 2021, the community helped raise over $5,000 worth of school supplies. We hope we will exceed it this year,” added Harrell.
Those wishing to donate can either purchase school supplies themselves and drop them off at the Walmart collection point or donate money, which club members will use to purchase more supplies from the local Walmart.
“It’s always amazing to me how people are so giving,” said Harrell. “One year, a little girl pulled a quarter out of her little coin purse and dropped it in. Her smile was ear to ear. That probably impacted me more than anything because giving that 25 cents meant so much to her.”
The collected supplies will go to Gilmer schools grades K-12 to be used as needed.
“All donations stay in Gilmer County,” Harrell confirmed.
The Optimist Club will be focusing on purchasing and collecting supplies normally purchased by teachers and items for students such as backpacks, notebooks and pencils. Among the other needed items are tissues, hand sanitizer, dry erase markers, paper towels and sandwich/quart/gallon plastic bags. The school board will be providing some supplies for students this year, Harrell noted.
This year brings the 10th anniversary of Stuff the Bus for the local Optimist Club, which focuses on projects and programs that benefit children in the community.
“We truly appreciate our partners, Walmart and Gilmer County Schools, for supporting us these past 10 years,” Harrell said.
Any questions about the Stuff the Bus drive can be addressed to gilmeroptimistclub@gmail.com.