Stuff-A-Bus Helps 1,770 Oswego County Kids Start the School Year Ready

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Over 52,000 school supplies were collected through the 24th annual countywide effort. For 1,770 kids across Oswego County, back-to-school essentials were ready and waiting this year, thanks to the community's support of United Way of Greater Oswego County’s Stuff-A-Bus campaign. This summer, an impressive 52,658 school supplies were gathered through donations, workplace drives, and collection sites across the county—13,155 more than in 2025, marking an increase of over 33 percent. However, for United Way, the success of Stuff-A-Bus is more than just numbers. Fifty-two thousand supplies is an incredible number, but the number that stays with us is 1,770. That’s 1,770 local kids who had one less thing to worry about when they walked through the school doors this year. That’s why this community continues to show up for Stuff-A-Bus.

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For 24 years, Stuff-A-Bus has ensured that children throughout Oswego County have the supplies they need to start a new school year. What began as a simple school supply drive has blossomed into a countywide effort supported by local businesses, school districts, organizations, volunteers, and families. The campaign culminated August 19, when volunteers collected donations at various locations throughout Oswego County. These supplies were then combined with thousands of others gathered throughout the summer, before volunteers sorted, counted, and prepared them for distribution.

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Stuff-A-Bus reached students in the Altmar-Parish-Williamstown, Central Square, Fulton, Hannibal, Mexico, Oswego, Phoenix, and Sandy Creek school districts. United Way extends its gratitude to Oswego Elks Lodge #271, which once again provided space to collect, count, and distribute supplies to families in the Oswego City School District. This effort was further supported by the many businesses and organizations that hosted collection sites and workplace drives throughout the summer. From those who dropped school supplies into a collection box to the volunteers who ensured those supplies found their way into a student’s backpack, United Way attributes this year’s success to a community that consistently takes care of its kids.