VC Residents Answer Assemblyman Jeff Gorell’s Call to “Stuff the Bus” with School Supplies for Low Income Families

Camarillo, CA – Residents of Ventura County donated thousands of dollars in school supplies including backpacks for local students from low income families, making Assemblyman Jeff Gorell’s (R-Camarillo) “Stuff the Bus” grass-roots effort a resounding success.

“Today’s students are the future of Ventura County, and ensuring that our students are prepared for the coming school year makes us all stronger,” said Gorell. “I’m really proud of the charitable response we have received from the community, and I’m glad that I am able to bring this effort to my district.”

Staff and volunteers from Hueneme Elementary School District, the Oxnard Union High School District, Community Action Partnership of Ventura County, Big Lots and a host of others stuffed a school bus with boxes of school supplies, and the supplies were driven back to the school for sorting and distribution by school administrators.

“We strive to help our students reach their highest potential. Our kids are not always equipped with the supplies they need to make this happen. This effort will help our kids immensely,” stated Hueneme Elementary School District Superintendent Dr. Jerry Dannenberg. “I’d like to thank Assemblyman Gorell for organizing this effort as well as everyone who contributed to make it a success.”

“Stuff the Bus”, a grass-roots effort presented by Assemblyman Gorell, ran for two weeks and culminated in a final day effort collecting donations of school supplies to deliver to students from families who might otherwise not be able to prepare their kids for the new semester. The last day effort at the Big Lots store in Camarillo, one of the locations where supplies were collected, brought together a coalition of businesses and community leaders, including Community Action Partnership, who fueled the success of “Stuff the Bus” by donating their time and resources to the effort.

Major supporters of the Stuff the Bus effort included:

• International Paper donated $500 ($250 to each school district)
• AT&T Pioneers (in-kind contribution of 50 backpacks)
• Big Lots (in-kind)
• Community Action Partnership (in-kind)