A carpenter needs a hammer and saw to do his job, just as a plumber requires a wrench.  East Baton Rouge Parish School System students also need the correct tools for their job – learning, but many students can’t afford them.

You can make a big difference by doing just a little.  The School System and WBRZ is teaming up to collect school supplies for needy students during WBRZ’s Stuff the Bus with School Supplies drive.  On July 8, the goal is to fill a school bus with donated school supplies by the end of the day.  Supplies will be accepted from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the parking lot of the Office Depot located at 3116 College Dr., where the bus also will be parked. 

If you can’t come by that day, buy supplies a little earlier, and any of Raising Cane’s 15 area locations will accept them June 23 through July 7.  Each donation receives a free tea.  On July 8, Raising Cane’s will collect all donations left at their area locations and bring them to the Stuff the Bus event.

Last year, which was the first year of the program, $33,000 worth of supplies were collected and distributed to students at 72 East Baton Rouge Parish public schools.

WBRZ is asking the community to take a moment, purchase a few supplies and drop them off at the bus as a donation.  Supplies like No. 2 pencils, pens, notebook paper, notebooks, scissors, glue, Crayons (24 count), 12-inch rulers (metric and standard units), pocket folders, colored pencils, pencil sharpeners, highlighters and index cards are in high demand, and the cost is minimal.  Feel free to add other items, as well, such as backpacks or calculators.

Supplies go to needy students in grades K-8.  Volunteer help from Volunteers in Public Schools make this drive possible. 

You can do so much with a little effort.  Please get involved, because we can’t teach, and they can’t learn, without the proper supplies.  For more information, visit www.2theadvocate.com or call (225) 922-5611.