United Way of the CSRA has successfully completed its 2025 Stuff the Bus school supply collection drive. The community effort gathered 34,273 school supplies, valued at $141,480, which is a 23% increase over last year's total. These supplies will be distributed to thousands of students in Richmond, Columbia, Burke, and Screven Counties, helping them start the school year prepared and confident.

Businesses and volunteers throughout the CSRA contributed to the success of the drive. Twenty-eight local companies hosted school supply drives, and 16 companies mobilized their teams to assist with collection events in Augusta and Waynesboro. In total, 71 volunteers dedicated 176 hours to sorting, packing, and distributing donations.

"Equipped students are empowered students," said Brittany Burnett, President & CEO of United Way of the CSRA. "Thanks to our community’s generosity, thousands of children are walking into class prepared to learn and thrive."

The success of the drive is especially significant given current national trends. According to the National Retail Federation, families with K–12 students budgeted slightly less for back-to-school purchases this year, averaging $858.07, a decrease from $874.68 in 2024. While total national spending is expected to rise to $39.4 billion, many parents are shopping earlier and looking for ways to stretch their budgets. Local drives like Stuff the Bus are crucial in ensuring that all students have the essential supplies they need for a successful school year.