Shoppers are being asked to help stuff the bus this tax-free weekend in an effort to give school supplies to students in need.

The United Way of Greater St. Joseph and the Salvation Army are partnering once again to collect donated school supplies and distribute them to area children whose families can’t afford to buy them. The Stuff the Bus school supplies drive will be held August 7 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and August 8 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at both Walmarts in St. Joseph to collect the supplies.

Jay Martin, United Way Program Dir. said volunteers will be out helping with the drive.  This year more than 300 volunteers will assist in the drive.

“We’ll be handing out flyers at the doors and talking to people going into the Walmarts,” Martin said.

The collected school supplies will be distributed during the Salvation Army’s Back to School fair on Aug. 13 to area children who may otherwise start the school year off without the tools they need.

Martin said he hopes the tax-free weekend will give shoppers an additional incentive to help out.

“Whatever money they might be saving on taxes maybe buy a little something extra with and donate it to our bus so kids in the area who cant afford supplies can get supplies donated to them,” he said.

The Back to School Sales Tax Holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 7 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 9.

For more information about Stuff the Bus call the United Way at (816) 364-2381.