Cuts make Stuff the Bus more ‘beneficial than ever’

Saturday’s Stuff the Bus in Patterson marked the fifth year of the drive. This year’s drive had a special importance.
The city of Patterson, Hattie Watts Elementary, Patterson Junior High and Patterson High sponsored the event held Saturday in the Family Dollar parking lot in Patterson.
During the previous few years, the school district had provided schools with an allotment to buy school supplies for kids who needed them, but because of the “economic crisis,” schools didn’t receive that stipend this year, Hattie Watts Principal Niki Fryou said.
“So the parents’ supply lists are bigger than normal. And so we’re thinking that this year, this is going to be more beneficial than ever because we are going to have kids show up without the needed supplies,” Fryou said.
“With this bus drive, we’re going to be able to give them what they need,” Fryou said.
Supplies received during Saturday’s Stuff the Bus will allow Patterson schools to give students the supplies on an as-needed basis, Fryou said. Parents can have the comfort of knowing that the school will help with providing their children supplies.
Faculty will distribute the supplies throughout the school year, Fryou said. Elementary students may have some items such as crayons, but not loose leaf paper. The supplies collected will help those students.
Patterson Junior High Principal Suzanne Bergeron said “we do whatever it takes to help our children. That’s our philosophy here.”
“If they need stuff, and we didn’t have any supplies, we would still try to go buy (supplies),” Bergeron said.
Bergeron and Fryou said the community is extremely supportive of their schools, and they were proud at the number of people who donated supplies, even in the midst of the economic downturn.
People also donated some clothing items as well, including school uniforms from the Kiwanis Club of East St. Mary.
“Any donations of clothing have been helpful,” Bergeron said.
Having extra articles of clothing helps parents by allowing school officials to not have to call parents to bring a change of clothes if a child gets his or her clothes dirty at school, Fryou said.
Paying It Forward, a local nonprofit community, also held a Stuff the Bus drive Friday under the U.S. 90 bridge in Morgan City for St. Mary Parish students in need. Organizer June Mire said they were grateful for all the supplies and school uniforms people donated.
Anyone who is in need of school supplies or uniforms may fill out an application to receive items from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today through Wednesday at Paying It Forward’s office at 819 Fourth St. in Morgan City.
Any supplies and uniforms left will be donated to all of the local schools, Mire said.