Thank you for partnering with United Way of Frederick County as a Stuff the Bus Collection Host!
Stuff the Bus helps local students throughout Frederick County start the school year with the supplies they need to learn, grow, and succeed. Your organization plays an important role in helping make that possible.
This toolkit is designed to make participation simple and turnkey for your business. Please feel free to use the resources provided below to promote your role in this year's drive, but know that you are not required to use anything provided.
We recommend starting with the Collection Host Quick Start Guide.
To use any of the graphics or flyers below, simply click on the desired item and right click to save upon opening.
Social Media Ready-to-Use Graphics
Stuff the Bus_Donate at Office Option 1
Stuff the Bus_Donate at Office Option 2
Ready-to-Use Flyers
Email Template #1 — Campaign Launch
Subject Line Options
- Help Us Stuff the Bus!
- Join Our School Supply Drive
- Help Local Students Start School Ready to Learn
- We’re Proud to Support Stuff the Bus
Email Copy
Our team is proud to partner with United Way of Frederick County for this year’s Stuff the Bus school supply drive!
More than 17,000 students in Frederick County Public Schools qualify for free and reduced meals, and 33% of households in our community are considered ALICE — working families who are struggling to afford basic needs. School supplies can be a significant expense for many local families.
From June 8 through August 3, we’ll be collecting new, unused school supplies to help local students and families prepare for the upcoming school year.
You can participate by donating items such as:
- Backpacks
- Pencils and pens
- Notebooks and folders
- Crayons and markers
- Glue sticks and scissors
- And other classroom essentials
Donation collection bins will be located at: [Insert location]
Every donation helps students throughout Frederick County start the school year with confidence and the supplies they need to succeed.
Thank you for helping us make a difference for local kids and families!
Email Template #2 — Mid-Campaign Reminder
Subject Line Options
- There’s Still Time to Support Stuff the Bus
- Help Us Reach Our Collection Goal
- School Supply Drive Reminder
Email Copy
Thank you to everyone who has already donated to our Stuff the Bus school supply drive benefiting United Way of Frederick County!
There’s still time to participate. We’re continuing to collect new, unused school supplies through August 3.
Most needed items include:
- Backpacks
- Composition notebooks
- Pencil boxes
- Markers
- Scissors
- Plastic two-pocket folders
Donation bins are located at: [Insert location]
Together, we can help local students head back to school prepared and ready to learn.
Email Template #3 — Final Push
Subject Line Options
- Final Week to Stuff the Bus
- Last Chance to Donate School Supplies
- Help Us Finish Strong for Local Students
Email Copy
We’re in the final stretch of our Stuff the Bus school supply drive with United Way of Frederick County!
Now through August 3, we’re collecting new, unused school supplies to support local students and families.
If you’ve been meaning to donate, now is the perfect time. Even a few school supplies can make a meaningful difference for a child preparing for the school year.
Donation bins are located at: [Insert location]
Thank you for supporting our community and helping students start the school year strong.
General Social Media Tips
- Add photos of your employees donating supplies
- Share progress updates throughout the drive
- Post collection bin photos to encourage participation
- Tag United Way of Frederick County in your posts
- Encourage employees to repost and share
- Customize graphics in Canva with your company logo or messaging
Social Media Captions
Social Post #1 — Campaign Launch
We’re proud to support Stuff the Bus with United Way of Frederick County!
From June 8 through August 3, we’re collecting new, unused school supplies to help local students start the school year prepared and ready to learn.
You can help by donating items like backpacks, notebooks, pencils, crayons, folders, and other classroom essentials.
Donation location: [Insert location]
Together, we can help students throughout Frederick County head back to school with confidence.
Social Post #2 — Most Needed Items
Help us Stuff the Bus!
We’re collecting school supplies for local students through August 3 in partnership with United Way of Frederick County.
Most needed items include: ✂️ Scissors 📓 Composition notebooks 🎒 Backpacks 🖍️ Crayons and markers 📁 Pocket folders ✏️ Pencils and pencil boxes
Drop off donations at: [Insert location]
Every donation helps local students start the school year ready to succeed.
Social Post #3 — Employee Engagement
Our team is coming together to support local students through Stuff the Bus!
Thank you to everyone who has already donated school supplies to help students and families throughout Frederick County prepare for the upcoming school year.
There’s still time to participate! Donations of new, unused school supplies can be dropped off at [Insert location] through August 3.
Social Post #4 — Final Push
Final call to Stuff the Bus!
We’re in the last days of our school supply drive benefiting local students through United Way of Frederick County.
Help us finish strong by donating new, unused school supplies before August 3.
Together, we can help students start the school year with the tools they need to thrive.
Social Post #5 — Financial Donation Option
Want to support Stuff the Bus but short on time?
Text STB26 to 71777 to help United Way of Frederick County purchase school supplies for local students in need.
Every contribution helps students throughout our community start the school year prepared and ready to learn.
|
Week |
Action |
|---|---|
|
June 8 |
Launch email + social post |
|
Mid-June |
Share most needed items |
|
Early July |
Reminder post |
|
Final Week |
Final push |
|
After Campaign |
Thank-you post |
Newsletter Blurb
Our organization is proud to support United Way of Frederick County’s Stuff the Bus school supply drive.
From June 8 through August 3, we are collecting new, unused school supplies to help local Frederick County Public Schools students and families prepare for the upcoming school year.
Community members can donate items such as backpacks, spiral notebooks, pencil boxes, markers, folders, and other classroom essentials at [Insert location].
Together, we can help students start the school year prepared and ready to learn.
Intranet or Employee Portal Copy
Help us Stuff the Bus!
We’re partnering with United Way of Frederick County to collect new, unused school supplies for local students and families.
Donations can be dropped off at [Insert location] through August 3.
Most needed items include backpacks, scissors, pencil boxes, crayons, markers, folders, and other classroom essentials.
Thank you for helping local students start the school year strong.
If your organization would like to further engage employees and maximize your impact, consider adding one or more of these optional activities to your Stuff the Bus collection drive.
Employee Engagement Ideas
Increase participation and team spirit with simple engagement activities such as:
- Department vs. department competitions
- “Most Needed Item” themed weeks
- Casual dress days tied to donations
- Team shopping trips
- Leadership challenges
- Prize drawings for participants
- Matching donations or company incentives
Internal Volunteer Opportunities
Consider creating hands-on engagement opportunities for employees, including:
- Decorating collection bins
- Hosting a kickoff event
- Coordinating internal collection efforts
Leadership Participation
Encourage company leadership to:
- Send kickoff emails
- Share why the campaign matters
- Participate publicly in donation efforts
- Help encourage employee involvement
- Highlight community impact during meetings or internal communications
Visible leadership support can significantly increase participation.
Community Impact Messaging
Help employees understand why the drive matters by sharing local need statistics throughout the campaign.
Suggested messaging:
- More than 17,000 students in Frederick County Public Schools qualify for free and reduced meals.
- 33% of households in our community are considered ALICE — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.
- School supplies can be a significant financial burden for working families.
Social Media Participation
We encourage hosts to:
- Share photos of collection bins and employee participation
- Post progress updates throughout the campaign
- Celebrate milestones or friendly competitions
- Tag United Way of Frederick County in posts
This helps build momentum and inspire additional community participation.
Additional Ways to Support
Organizations may also choose to:
- Promote online giving options
- Invite customers or clients to participate
- Sponsor backpacks or supply kits
- Provide matching financial donations
Host Recognition Opportunities
Businesses that participate may be recognized through:
- United Way social media shout-outs
- Campaign recap materials
- Community impact stories
- Event recognition opportunities
Thank you for helping local students start the school year prepared and ready to learn.
After Stuff the Bus has concluded, send your team a note to thank them for their role in helping thousands of students start the year with the tools they need to succeed!
Option 1: Simple & Appreciative (Email or Slack)
Thank you to everyone who supported our Stuff the Bus collection this year! Your generosity helped ensure local students in Frederick County have the school supplies they need to start the year strong.
Because of your donations, we’re helping fill backpacks and provide confidence for thousands of children in our community. We appreciate you taking the time to give, contribute, and make a difference.
Option 2: Warm & Community-Focused
Thank you for your incredible support of our Stuff the Bus school supply drive!
Your donations go directly to students in Frederick County Public Schools, where more than 17,000 students qualify for free and reduced meals. For many families, school supplies are an added financial strain and your generosity helps ease that burden in a meaningful way.
We’re grateful to be part of a workplace that shows up for our community in such a tangible way. Thank you for helping students start the school year prepared and confident.
Option 3: Short & Sweet
Thank you to our amazing team for supporting Stuff the Bus! 🎒🚌
Your donations help local students in Frederick County start the school year with the supplies they need to succeed. We’re proud to be part of a workplace that gives back!
Option 4: Impact-Driven (Good for Leadership Send)
Thank you for your participation in our Stuff the Bus collection.
Your generosity directly supports students in Frederick County Public Schools, helping ensure they have the essential tools needed for learning. With more than 17,000 students in our county qualifying for free and reduced meals and a significant portion of households facing financial hardship, this effort truly matters.
We appreciate your commitment to strengthening our community and supporting local children in a meaningful, practical way.
Option 5: Friendly & Team-Building Tone
A big thank you to everyone who contributed to our Stuff the Bus collection!
It was great to see our team come together in support of local students. Every notebook, backpack, and pencil donated helps set a child up for a more confident start to the school year.
Thank you for making it easy and fun to give back together!
What is Stuff the Bus?
Stuff the Bus is United Way of Frederick County’s annual school supply drive that helps local students and families access the supplies needed to start the school year prepared and ready to learn.
When does the collection drive take place?
The collection drive runs from June 8 through August 3. In the morning of August 3, a school bus will visit your location to pick up any supplies collected during the drive. A specific time window for your pick up will be provided 1-2 weeks prior to August 3 so you can schedule accordingly.
What items are most needed?
Most requested items include:
- Backpacks
- Two-pocket folders (plastic preferred)
- Crayons
- Markers
- Scissors
- Pencil boxes
- Calculators
- Earbuds with microphones
- Composition notebooks
Please donate only new, unused school supplies.
Where should we place our collection bin?
We recommend placing collection bins in high-traffic areas such as:
- Lobbies
- Break rooms
- Employee entrances
- Cafeterias
- Reception areas
Can our business customize the graphics in this toolkit?
Yes! Canva templates are included so your organization can add:
- Company logos
- Collection locations
- Internal contests or goals
- Custom messaging
- Pictures from your team's prior participation
Ready-to-use versions are also provided for businesses that prefer not to customize materials.
How often should we promote the drive?
We recommend:
- One kickoff announcement
- One or two reminder messages during the campaign
- One final push message before collections end
Even a few reminders can significantly increase participation.
Can employees make financial donations instead of donating supplies?
Yes. Employees can support Stuff the Bus financially by:
- Donating online at https://tinyurl.com/GiveSTB
- Texting STB26 to 71777
Financial donations help purchase the most-needed school supplies for local students to fill gaps of what is donated vs. what is needed.
Can we host internal contests or employee engagement activities?
Absolutely! Friendly competitions are a great way to increase participation. Ideas include:
- Department competitions
- Most-needed-item weeks
- Prize drawings
- Casual dress days tied to donations
- Leadership challenges
Can smaller businesses still participate?
Yes! Every contribution helps. Businesses of any size can participate by:
- Hosting a small collection bin
- Promoting online donations
- Organizing a one-day collection event
- Encouraging employee participation
- Sharing public drop-off locations
Will donated supplies stay local?
Yes. Donations support students and families throughout Frederick County.
How do we return collected supplies?
In the morning of August 3, a school bus will visit your location to pick up any supplies collected during the drive. A specific time window for your pick up will be provided 1-2 weeks prior to August 3 so you can schedule accordingly.
If no one from your team is available on August 3 for our volunteers to pick up school supplies, please let Erin Lawson know by emailing elawson@uwfrederick.org. She will coordinate a pick-up or drop-off date prior to August 3 with you.
Can United Way provide promotional support?
Yes. We’re happy to help answer questions, provide additional materials, or support your organization throughout the campaign.
Contact:
Erin Lawson
Director of Resource Development & Marketing
240-578-407
Can we share photos on social media?
Yes! We encourage businesses to share photos of:
- Collection bins
- Employee participation
- Team donations
- Group volunteer activities
Please tag United Way of Frederick County so we can celebrate your impact with the community.
Can we volunteer beyond collecting supplies?
Yes! We will have volunteer needs from August 3-5 with multiple shift options available.
Shift times and tasks will be as follows:
Monday 8/3 – 8 AM – 1 PM and 12 – 5 PM
- The first shift will be riding on school buses to collect supplies that have been donated from the various businesses while the second shift will assist with unloading the buses and sorting the supplies
Tuesday 8/4 – 8-11 AM, 11 AM – 2 PM, 2-5 PM
- All shifts will be sorting and packing backpacks
Wednesday 8/5 – 8 AM – 12 PM
- Finalizing counts for schools and organizing for delivery the following day
Volunteer registration will open in early June.
