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'Stuff The Bus' Nets Load Of School Supplies

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 13, 2008

BRANDON - With humidity at 85 percent, there was no shortage of sweat.

But with the exception of one paper cut, there was no blood. And the only thing close to tears was the perspiration running down the faces of the members of the Greater Brandon Kiwanis Club as they loaded back-to-school supplies into a Hillsborough County school bus during their first "Stuff the Bus" event last week.

Even before tallying the bounty collected in the Kmart parking lot off State Road 60, Kiwanis member Karen Gerardi declared the first-time event a success.

"It's more than we expected," she said. "And it's just going to grow every year."

With their main focus on helping children, the Kiwanis clubs of Brandon and Sun City Center organized the Stuff the Bus campaign to collect back-to-school supplies for children whose families can't afford to buy them - and there are many during these difficult economic times, said Dustie Amatangelo, president of the Brandon club and an advertising sales representative for The Tampa Tribune.

Residents and business people from both communities were invited to collect supplies.

"Parents usually need to spend approximately $100 per child on back-to-school supplies," said Seel Lundy, president of the Kiwanis Club of Sun City Center. "Teachers report that some students don't show up the first few days of school because they don't have the supplies expected of them."
Hillsborough County School Board member April Griffin said many teachers dip into their wallets to provide supplies for students who don't have them. She said community outreach projects like Stuff the Bus fill the gap and enable all students to begin school on a level playing field.

"I love it when the community reaches into their hearts and pockets to help our children," Griffin said as she sorted through a box of backpacks printed with camouflage and polka-dot designs. "That's why I came out here this morning to show my support."
Paul Bogart could have been sitting in an air-conditioned meeting at Tampa Bay Technical High School, where he was scheduled to be the day of the collection. But his supervisor asked him instead to drive one of the district school buses to Kmart at 6 a.m.

The 12-year bus driver and retired Tampa police officer was more than happy to oblige.

"It's harder than sitting in a meeting," Bogart said as he helped Kiwanis members carry boxes of spiral notebooks up the narrow bus steps. "But I don't mind. There's nothing like helping kids."

By the time the collection was over, the bus was, indeed, stuffed to the brim. Boxes of notebook paper, blunt scissors, pencils, pens, crayons, folders and other assorted school supplies filled every seat.

Amatangelo said the campaign collected about $6,100 worth of supplies and donations, which will be distributed to 38 schools.

School principals and guidance counselors will determine which students will receive the supplies.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524 or dlwhite@tampatrib.com.

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