SoKY’s Choice: ‘Stuff The Bus’ marks 21 years of no brakes on giving

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) – With temperatures soaring into the triple digits, the generosity in Bowling Green is keeping pace. The annual “Stuff the Bus” campaign wrapped up its 21st year this week, collecting tens of thousands of school supplies for students in southern Kentucky.

Held near the Crossroads Express, the event invited community members to donate items ranging from crayons and backpacks to calculators and even tech gear, to help level the playing field for local students.

“This community said we want every child to walk in on the first day of school on a level playing field with all of their classmates,” said Tony Rose, founder of the Stuff the Bus Foundation. “We’re just the keepers of these buses. The community makes sure that they’re full.”

This year’s goal was ambitious: 100 hours to collect 100,000 school supplies. But organizers say the community exceeded expectations.

“Let’s just say we went above and beyond,” Rose said. “One hundred hours in a bus, it’s a task for sure, especially in the July heat of Kentucky.”

Local businesses have become long-term partners in the mission, including Mellow Matt’s Music and More. Owner Matt Pfefferkorn said his store has supported the effort since 2013.

“It’s something like this that’s so monumental to this community,” Pfefferkorn said. “We’re just happy to be part of it and happy to help out.”

Brian Vratanina, a member of the Stuff the Bus Board of Directors, has been involved with the event for more than a decade. He said seeing the joy on students’ and teachers’ faces makes it all worthwhile.

“It means a lot… seeing the look on teachers’ and kids’ faces when we’re able to help them out with things they absolutely need,” Vratanina said.

He added that the growth of the organization, from a short-term event to a year-round foundation, shows just how committed the community is. “The fact that somebody was able and willing to donate, that’s just over the top,” he said.

Most importantly, every dollar and every item donated stays right here in southern Kentucky.

“Every single item we collect and every single dollar we collect stays 100% local,” Rose said.

As Stuff the Bus wraps up its 21st year, organizers are already looking ahead to year 22.