Just like a mechanic needs a wrench, the students of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System need the right tools – notebooks, pencils, scissors and more – to learn and achieve success.  That’s why WBRZ Channel 2 and the School System, along with Volunteers In Public Schools (VIPS), Office Depot and Raising Cane’s, became partners for the second annual WBRZ Stuff the Bus with School Supplies drive on July 8.

Even with a down economy and cutbacks in donations, our community came together for this very important cause.  In fact, the drive collected supplies totaling $46,438 – well past last year’s first foray into the program, which ended with supplies valued at $33,000.

Hundreds of people turned out to help fill a total of two school buses with Crayons, notebook paper, pens and more for students in need enrolled in our schools.  Even Superintendent John Dilworth was on hand to make a personal donation of two bags of supplies and help load one of the buses.  In addition, VIPS volunteers included Baton Rouge Magnet High School students, who collected donations from walk-in and drive-up donors and organized materials on the buses.

The totals haven’t been tallied yet, but last year supplies totaling about $33,000 were collected during the drive for 72 schools in the System.  This week and next, VIPS volunteers will be on hand to divvy up supplies for students in need attending grades K-8 – just in time for the start of school on August 7.  The School System, Superintendent Dilworth and everyone involved in this year’s drive want to thank the community for their generous donations – and for getting actively involved in education.