FORT WRIGHT, Ky. — It’s that time of year again when families and educators gather supplies they need for the new school year. Northern Kentucky Chick-fil-A restaurants helped “Stuff the Bus” with needed supplies.

What You Need To Know

  • Northern Kentucky Chick-fil-A locations helped to "Stuff the Bus" with needed school supplies

  • Students and educators needing supplies could get what they needed

  • The "Stuff the Bus" Challenge has been growing for the past ten years

  • Over 50,000 items have been collected over time.

Lamyia Johnson is going to be in the sixth grade, and the bus was just what she needed.

Johnson told Spectrum News 1 getting new supplies each year isn’t easy saying, “I wasn’t ready. I didn’t have any school supplies.”

It’s a community-wide issue Pam Gilchrist, a marketing director with Chick-fil-A, told Spectrum News 1. Gilchrist says the company works to tackle the problem every year in northern Kentucky with its “Stuff the Bus” challenge.

This is the 10th year for the challenge and Gilchrist has been with the company for the last seven. She said it’s grown from helping those in need in Boone County to helping the entire region. Chick-fil-A says Kentucky has the sixth highest poverty rate in the country and Gilchrist says there’s a definite need for services in northern Kentucky.

“We want to help these kids get back to school and get a great start. The stores all came together and decided to formulate this stuff the bus challenge and be able to support the kids for the school years,” she said.

In the last ten years, the challenge has collected over 50,000 items and the donations keep growing.

“It’s our chance to support the community, help our kids get back for the great school year ahead and prepare them for what they need,” Gilchrist said.

Johnson said she’s grateful to see drives like this because she and others will get their school years off to a great start.

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