Charleroi’s Stuff the Bus fundraiser set for Thursday

Donations will be accepted Thursday at River House Cafe.

One of Charleroi Area School District’s largest fundraisers will take place Thursday.

The annual Stuff the Bus will take on the same format as it did last year, partnering with River House Cafe in Charleroi to make it a success.

Stuff the Bus has been the kickoff event that helps make sure students are prepared for the new school year.

It will be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at River House Cafe, located at 506 McKean Ave., and the restaurant will donate 10% of all its food sales that day to benefit the cause.

The event started in 2017 when Charleroi Area School Board Director Tom Nutting requested school supplies instead of gifts for his 70th birthday. Nutting was inspired by a post from a former student on social media.

Each year since, instead of birthday presents, he asks members of the community to help him fill a school bus with supplies for students in the district.

It has moved beyond a birthday celebration and is now a communitywide effort to support district students.

While donations of supplies will be accepted, Nutting said most people have opted to give monetary donations that are used by teachers and administrators to purchase supplies in bulk from Amazon.

Donations can include backpacks, notebooks, pencils and other school supplies such as binders, highlighters, colored pencils, pens, crayons and other office materials.

Monetary donations can be submitted by checks made out to Charleroi Area School District. Checks can be mailed to Nutting at 705 11th St., Charleroi, PA 15022 and earmarked for Stuff the Bus.

Items can also be dropped off at Charleroi Elementary Center from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.

For other drop off arrangements, email Nutting at thomasnutting@charleroisd.org.

After donations are organized and more school supplies are purchased, students will be able to collect their items before school starts next month.

A basket auction will also be held to raise money.

Twenty-five tickets can be purchased for $5, and winners will be drawn at 6 p.m. Thursday.

The event has grown tenfold since it was started eight years ago, helping more than 400 district students get ready for school last year.

Organizers hope to help even more students this year.