United Way’s annual ‘Stuff the Bus’ event scheduled in August

Jonesboro, AR — (JonesboroRightNow.com) — July 22, 2025 — United Way of Northeast Arkansas will be holding its annual Stuff the Bus event to collect much-needed school supplies for area schools at Walmart locations across Northeast Arkansas in August.

United Way of NEA executive director Heather Coats said each year, Stuff the Bus draws parents, teachers, students, and residents across Northeast Arkansas together for the goal of helping students succeed in school.

“Starting in 2005 with only two counties, United Way of NEA’ Stuff the Bus has grown over the last 10 years to a community-wide school supply drive with multiple locations, covering seven counties and serving 20 school districts across Northeast Arkansas,” Coats said. “Our goal for this event every year is to stock participating schools with much-needed supplies for families that may struggle financially getting those supplies for their children.”

Businesses can also have their own team drives leading up to the event by collecting supplies and then dropping them off at any of their Wal-Mart locations the day of, Coats added.

This event is sponsored by the United Way of NEA, the Jonesboro Media Group, K8, Black Hills Energy, RightFiber, Southern Bank, Swept Away, Cross Bank, Farmers and Merchant Bank, and Great Dane.

“We are very fortunate to be blessed with such a giving community that comes out every year and donates to the students of Northeast Arkansas by purchasing school supplies and dropping them off to our volunteers,” Coats said. “They are the ones that help make Stuff the Bus a success. This is a special day of generosity and happiness that brings people together serving the youth of our community.”

In 2023, Stuff the Bus collected 41,707 donated supplies, which were distributed to schools such as Brookland, Jonesboro, Nettleton, Westside, Valley View, Rivercrest, Osceola, Paragould, Greene County Tech, Maynard, Pocahontas, Bay, Trumann, Harrisburg, Walnut Ridge, Hoxie, Wynne, Cross County, and Imboden Area Charter School.

To make a Stuff the Bus donation, look for a yellow bus on Saturday, Aug. 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of Wal-Mart stores in Craighead, Cross, Greene, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett and Randolph counties.

For more information about this and other events, click here, call 870-935-3658, or visit the Jonesboro location at 407 Union St. To start a team, contact Coats at heather.coats@local.unitedway.org.