Community invited to donate school supplies for Roanoke area students at Walmart next weekend
Roanoke, Virginia – Roanoke City Public Schools, along with Salem City Public Schools, Roanoke County Public Schools, and Craig County Public Schools, are once again collaborating with Walmart for the “Load The Bus” program. This initiative is timed to coincide with the Tax-Free weekend in August, aiming to gather essential school supplies for students in need throughout the Roanoke area.
Community Effort for Education
The Load The Bus program has become a critical resource for students whose families might struggle with the costs of basic school supplies. This year, the event will take place at various Walmart locations, including Bonsack, Clearbrook, Salem, and Valley View. The community is encouraged to contribute items such as backpacks, binders, markers, composition notebooks, folders, and scissors, among other supplies.
The donation event is scheduled for the following times:
- Friday, August 2 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday, August 3 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday, August 4 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Particularly, donations collected at the Salem Walmart will benefit the students of Salem City Public Schools, Roanoke County Public Schools, and Craig County Public Schools. Donors have the option to hand their contributions to school staff members who will be present during the event or simply place them in designated donation boxes at the store entrances.
Convenient Options for Donors
For those who might be out of town during the event or prefer online shopping, there is an option to donate through a Walmart wish list. Items purchased online will be directly shipped to Roanoke City Public Schools, ensuring that donations reach the students irrespective of the donor’s location.
Essential Supplies Needed
The schools have provided a detailed list of needed supplies to guide donors. The list includes:
- Backpacks
- 1” 3-ring binders
- Crayons
- Glue sticks
- Colored pencils
- Washable markers
- Spiral-bound 1-subject notebooks
- Composition notebooks
- Folders
- Pens (black or blue)
- Pencils
- Notebook paper/filler paper
- Scissors (suitable for younger students)
- Highlighters
- Tissues
- Hand sanitizer
Through the collective efforts of the community, the Load The Bus program continues to make a significant impact. By providing the necessary tools for educational success, the program helps to alleviate some of the back-to-school stress for families and ensures that every student has a fair start to the new school year.