United Way’s 5th Annual STUFF THE BUS! School Supplies Drive was a big success, and officials with the United Way offered their thanks to the community.

Shoppers in St. Joseph and the surrounding area donated over 23,700 packages of school supply items on Friday and Saturday.

That’s a big increase from the year before. In 2012, 21,200 items were collected.

On Friday, 13,294 packages of school supply items were collected. On Saturday, 10,479 items were collected.

The collected school supplies will be distributed through United Way Partner Agencies and Programs, including The Salvation Army Back to School Fair on August 8. At the Salvation Army Back to School Fair, children who would otherwise not have what they need to start the school year off prepared will receive the supplies they need. When students have the tools they need, they enter school better prepared to learn.

“For the fifth year, the community has STUFFED THE BUS! and we couldn’t be more grateful. Hundreds of volunteers, thousands of shoppers and our presenting sponsor, Heartland Health, made this weekend’s event a great success,” said United Way President Kylee Strough.

“Thank you to the community for coming together to ensure children can start school with the tools and supplies needed to be successful in the classroom.”

Families who may need assistance with school supplies collected from this year’s United Way STUFF THE BUS! School Supplies Drive are encouraged to call The Salvation Army at (816) 232-5824 to learn more about this year’s Back to School Fair.