On the weekend of August 6 through 8, 2010 Q101 will hold its fourth annual “Stuff the Bus” at both the Dayton and Harrisonburg Crossing Wal-Marts.

A school bus will be located at each site and shoppers are invited to donate school supplies for local children. Shoppers can also take advantage of the tax free weekend.

Again this year, Q101 and United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County are partnering with WHSV-TV3 and the Salvation Army’s “Tools for School” to create one community-wide collaborative initiative to provide local children with the supplies they need to start school. The 105.1 Bob Rocks radio channel will also be participating.

Public school officials estimate that approximately one out of every four children attending public schools need assistance with purchasing school supplies.

According to Janet Wendleken, of the 11,400 students enrolled in the Rockingham County Public Schools, approximately 2,800 or 24 percent need help with supplies. For Harrisonburg City Public Schools, Craig Mackail reports that approximately 1,605 students, or 36 percent, out of a total 4,500 students enrolled will need assist.

Volunteers will be on site at the two locations from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on August 6, 7 and 8, and there will be live coverage by Q101 and Bob Rocks.

Donated items will be distributed to children at Harrisonburg City and Rockingham County public schools, as well through the Salvation Army.

The 2009 Stuff the Bus was “wildly” successful in collecting 2650 bags of supplies and cash donations valued at $29,400. This was double the results of the 2008 collection weekend.

Area workplaces are invited to place collection boxes for their employees and then bring their donated items to Stuff the Bus this weekend. For more information contact Ryan O’Bryan at Q101 at 540-434-0331.

Volunteers are still being recruited to work at the Wal-Mart locations. For more information contact Betsy Hay at United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County at 540-434-6639 ext 301. Stuff the Bus uses more 100 volunteers from area businesses, churches and civic groups.

The following items are needed:
- Glue Sticks 
- White Glue 
- #2 Pencils 
- Colored Pencils 
- Scissors 
- Erasers 
- Pens 
- School Boxes 
- Back Packs 
- Construction Paper 
- Wide-ruled notebook paper 
- Marble composition notebook
- Spiral 1 subject notebooks
- 2 pocket folders
- Hand Sanitizer
- Kleenex