This year’s Stuff the Bus campaign reached a new high, with community members donating more than 29-thousand school supply items to the needy.

United Way parked school buses in the parking lots at both St. Joseph WalMart locations to collect donations of school supplies for needy families. In a news release, the group said it collected 29,360 items, and nearly $1,300 to buy supplies that were not donated.

Last year, community members donated 23,234 items, and since the program began in 2009 they have collected and distributed more than 160,000 items. The collected items will be distributed through partner agencies and programs including the Salvation Army “Back to School Fair.”

Families in need of assistance are urged to call The Salvation Army at (816)232-5824.