News
Big Yellow Bus, Bigger Hearts: Salvation Army Rolls Out ‘Stuff the Bus’ to Help Fort Wayne Kids Gear Up for School
<p data-start="348" data-end="548">FORT WAYNE, Ind. – With the sweltering days of summer counting down to the first school bell, one yellow bus in a Walmart parking lot is delivering more than just nostalgia — it’s delivering hope.</p>
<p data-start="550" data-end="954">This weekend, the Salvation Army of Allen County is inviting Fort Wayne residents to “Stuff the Bus,” its high-visibility donation drive aimed at collecting school supplies for local families struggling to afford back-to-school basics. The event is part of the broader ‘Tools for School’ campaign, which has quietly become one of the region’s most vital safety nets for working-class parents.</p>
<p data-start="956" data-end="1001">And this year, the need is sharper than ever.</p>
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<p data-start="1005" data-end="1255">“There are a lot of families out there living paycheck to paycheck,” said Timothy Smith, the Salvation Army’s Social Services Director. “When you’ve got that kind of income, any added expense — like school supplies — can really break the budget.”</p>
</blockquote>
<h3 data-start="1257" data-end="1300">Where and When: ‘Stuff the Bus’ Details</h3>
<p data-start="1302" data-end="1369">The donation drive is taking place at the Walmart on Lima Road:</p>
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<li data-start="1370" data-end="1396">
<p data-start="1372" data-end="1396">ð Saturday, July 19</p>
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<li data-start="1397" data-end="1455">
<p data-start="1399" data-end="1455">ð Monday, July 21<br />
â° 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days</p>
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</ul>
<p data-start="1457" data-end="1610">A big yellow school bus will be parked outside, where volunteers will greet shoppers and community members with smiles — and plenty of bins for supplies.</p>
<p data-start="1612" data-end="1803">Those who can’t make it in person aren’t left out: the Salvation Army has created online registries through Amazon and Walmart, allowing donors to select items with just a few clicks.</p>
<p data-start="1612" data-end="1803"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-13971" src="https://budgyapp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Salvation-Army-Stuff-the-Bus-Fort-Wayne.jpg" alt="Salvation Army Stuff the Bus Fort Wayne," width="626" height="425" /></p>
<h3 data-start="1805" data-end="1828">A Legacy of Support</h3>
<p data-start="1830" data-end="2072">The ‘Tools for School’ program began in 2004, but its relevance has only grown. It provides children from low-income households with a full kit of school essentials — everything from notebooks and folders to backpacks and glue sticks.</p>
<p data-start="2074" data-end="2213">In 2024 alone, the program served over 1,200 students across Allen County. This year, organizers say they expect to exceed that number.</p>
<h3 data-start="2215" data-end="2233">What to Donate</h3>
<p data-start="2235" data-end="2309">A wide range of items is needed to ensure every child receives the basics:</p>
<h4 data-start="2311" data-end="2347">Most Requested School Supplies:</h4>
<ul data-start="2348" data-end="2590">
<li data-start="2348" data-end="2374">
<p data-start="2350" data-end="2374">âï¸ Pencils and erasers</p>
</li>
<li data-start="2375" data-end="2410">
<p data-start="2377" data-end="2410">ð Spiral notebooks and folders</p>
</li>
<li data-start="2411" data-end="2442">
<p data-start="2413" data-end="2442">âï¸ Scissors and glue sticks</p>
</li>
<li data-start="2443" data-end="2456">
<p data-start="2445" data-end="2456">ð Rulers</p>
</li>
<li data-start="2457" data-end="2502">
<p data-start="2459" data-end="2502">ðï¸ Crayons, markers, and colored pencils</p>
</li>
<li data-start="2503" data-end="2531">
<p data-start="2505" data-end="2531">ð Backpacks (all sizes)</p>
</li>
<li data-start="2532" data-end="2562">
<p data-start="2534" data-end="2562">ð Binders and index cards</p>
</li>
<li data-start="2563" data-end="2590">
<p data-start="2565" data-end="2590">ðï¸ Pens and highlighters</p>
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote data-start="2592" data-end="2733">
<p data-start="2594" data-end="2733">A full, updated supply list is available on the <a class="cursor-pointer" target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="2642" data-end="2732">Salvation Army of Allen County’s website</a>.</p>
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<h3 data-start="2735" data-end="2775">Table: Donation Timeline &; Locations</h3>
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<th data-start="2777" data-end="2802" data-col-size="sm">Event</th>
<th data-start="2802" data-end="2824" data-col-size="sm">Date</th>
<th data-start="2824" data-end="2843" data-col-size="sm">Time</th>
<th data-start="2843" data-end="2869" data-col-size="sm">Location</th>
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<td data-start="2963" data-end="2988" data-col-size="sm">Stuff the Bus – Day 1</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="2988" data-end="3010">Saturday, July 19</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="3010" data-end="3029">10 AM – 6 PM</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="3029" data-end="3055">Walmart, Lima Road</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="3056" data-end="3148">
<td data-start="3056" data-end="3081" data-col-size="sm">Stuff the Bus – Day 2</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="3081" data-end="3103">Monday, July 21</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="3103" data-end="3122">10 AM – 6 PM</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="3122" data-end="3148">Walmart, Lima Road</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="3149" data-end="3241">
<td data-start="3149" data-end="3174" data-col-size="sm">General Collections</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="3174" data-end="3196">Through July 22</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="3196" data-end="3215">Store hours vary</td>
<td data-col-size="sm" data-start="3215" data-end="3241">Public bins (various)</td>
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<p data-start="3243" data-end="3380">Donation bins have also been placed at key sites throughout Fort Wayne, including community centers, churches, and select grocery stores.</p>
<h3 data-start="3382" data-end="3428">Behind the Need: “It’s Not Just Notebooks”</h3>
<p data-start="3430" data-end="3544">Though notebooks and pencils may seem minor, they’re often part of a larger conversation about dignity and equity.</p>
<blockquote data-start="3546" data-end="3689">
<p data-start="3548" data-end="3689">“It’s not just about having school supplies,” Smith said. “It’s about showing kids that their community cares about them — that they matter.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p data-start="3691" data-end="3883">Fort Wayne mom Angela Rios, who received school supplies through the program last year, said the assistance allowed her to focus on her son’s emotional preparation instead of his backpack.</p>
<blockquote data-start="3885" data-end="4004">
<p data-start="3887" data-end="4004">“He didn’t walk into school embarrassed or different from the other kids,” Rios shared. “He walked in feeling ready.”</p>
</blockquote>
<h3 data-start="4006" data-end="4033">Community Support Grows</h3>
<p data-start="4035" data-end="4342">The campaign’s reach is expanding. This year, several small businesses, churches, and local civic groups have organized their own mini-drives to contribute to the Salvation Army’s pool. Teachers and school administrators have also lent a hand, spreading the word through parent newsletters and social media.</p>
<p data-start="4344" data-end="4514">And as inflation continues to affect food and housing costs, many middle-income families — once donors themselves — are now recipients of the very help they used to give.</p>
<blockquote data-start="4516" data-end="4684">
<p data-start="4518" data-end="4684">“These kinds of programs aren’t just safety nets for the very poor anymore,” said Smith. “They’re lifelines for working families who never imagined they’d need help.”</p>
</blockquote>
<h3 data-start="4686" data-end="4737">Donations, Dignity, and the First Day of School</h3>
<p data-start="4739" data-end="4980">The Salvation Army’s ‘Stuff the Bus’ campaign may look like a typical donation drive, but beneath the surface it’s doing far more — restoring confidence, leveling the playing field, and keeping hope alive for Fort Wayne families.</p>
<p data-start="4982" data-end="5223">By the time the first school bell rings this fall, thousands of local students will walk into class with everything they need — not because of government programs or policy changes, but because of ordinary neighbors who cared enough to give.</p>