Schools in Stafford, Orange seek donated supplies

BY LINDLEY ESTES

Before stuffing their buses and classrooms with students, schools in Stafford and Orange counties want to fill them with school supplies.

Stafford County’s fifth annual “Stuff the Bus” drive began July 1 and will last until Aug. 23.

People are encouraged to donate school supplies at a number of drop-off locations in Stafford. Needs range from backpacks and calculators to pencils and USB flash drives.

All 30 county schools and the Head Start program benefit from the donations, and each of the last four drives has been able to serve more students than that of the year before.

Last year, the drive provided school supplies for more than 475 students. The organizers then donated leftover items to the schools to give to other needy students who may not have been registered with Social Services.

“Every year I don’t think it can get any bigger, but it does,” said Stafford Schools spokeswoman Valerie Cottengim. “There’s a real generosity in the community. They meet and surpass the need every year.”

Volunteers, including service members stationed at Marine Corps Base Quantico, will stuff backpacks with the donated supplies, put names on them and hand them out to parents at each school’s open house.

Orange County is also sponsoring a drive for its annual School Supply Closet.

Its distribution of school supplies will begin on Monday, Aug. 20. For information about picking them up, call 540/672-5484.

DROP-OFF LOCATIONS

STAFFORD:

• Apple Federal Credit Union, 50 Dunn Drive across from the Home Depot in Doc Stone Commons
• Chick–fil–A, 25 Dunn Drive in North Stafford, and 1094 International Parkway off U.S. 17
• Geico, 1 Geico Blvd., off U.S. 17
• Lupi Orthodontics, 477 Garrisonville Road
• Stafford Hospital, 101 Hospital Center Blvd., off U.S. 1 just south of Courthouse Road
• Walmart, 11 Village Parkway, off U.S. 17
• Mary Washington Hospital, 1001 Sam Perry Blvd., in Fredericksburg
• Stafford County Schools, 31 Stafford Ave., at U.S. 1 and Hope Road
• Stafford County Government Center, 1300 Courthouse Road

ORANGE COUNTY:

• BB&T Bank, 235 N. Madison Road
• Faye’s Office Supplies, 131 E. Main St.
• Mama’s Pizza, 110 E. Washington St.
• Orange Chiropractic & Family Fitness, 325 Madison Road
• Orange County Administration Building, 112 W. Main St.
• Orange County Youth Commission, 110 N. Madison Road
• Orange County Visitors Bureau, 122 E. Main St.
• Orange County Library, 146 Madison Road
• Ribbons Hallmark, 517 N. Madison Road
• Virginia Community Bank, 169 Madison Road
• Waugh Harley–Davidson, 385 Waugh Blvd., off Constitution Highway

Gordonsville:

• BB&T Bank, 202 S. Main St.
• Gordonsville Library, 200 S. Main St., 319 N. Main St.
• Gordonsville Medical Pharmacy, 103 E. Gordon Ave.
• Gordonsville Town Hall, 112 S. Main St.

Locust Grove:

• Clearwater Grill, 4276 Germanna Highway
• Lake of the Woods, Holcomb Building
• Mama’s Pizza, 32311 Constitution Highway
• Weichert Realtors, 4258 Germanna Highway
• Wilderness Branch Library, 6421 Flat Run Road
• Wilderness Family Chiropractic, 4448 Germanna Highway

Lindley Estes: 540/735-1976

lestes@freelancestar.com

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