Fill the Bus Cancellation: United Way of Northwest Arkansas Postpones Annual School Supply Drive
United Way of Northwest Arkansas has canceled its annual school supply drive, Fill the Bus, for 2024. This decision was confirmed by Hannah Savage, the nonprofit’s interim chief executive officer, who cited the need for an update to the program.
Fill the Bus was originally launched to provide essential school supplies to students in Northwest Arkansas. The event, which has been running for nearly two decades, collected and distributed supplies to 13 local school districts, supporting over 12,000 students. The program’s estimated value was approximately 4,400 across all participating districts.
While Fill the Bus will not take place in 2024, United Way of Northwest Arkansas is working closely with its school partners to revamp the event, ensuring it returns better than ever in 2025. This delay provides an opportunity to review and enhance the drive to better serve the local community.
If you are a local family in need of school supplies, contact your school nurse or counselor for assistance. Additionally, if you wish to host a school supply drive, you can request the required tool kit by emailing Rhonda Bramell.
United Way of Northwest Arkansas has not detailed the specific reasons behind the cancellation but remains committed to providing crucial support to students in the region. Stay tuned for updates on the new and improved Fill the Bus event in 2025!