Grand opening of ‘Stuff the Bus’ community center

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — A Bowling Green nonprofit is expanding its efforts to support local families with the opening of a new community center designed to provide resources throughout the year.

Stuff the Bus celebrated the grand opening of its new facility Tuesday, Nov. 10, marking a milestone for the organization and its mission to assist children and families across south-central Kentucky.

The center will serve as a year-round resource, providing school supplies, food items and a space for educational activities and community learning.

Funding for the facility came through grants and donations from local businesses.

Rose, a representative of Stuff the Bus, said the new center will allow the nonprofit to respond to community needs beyond its annual summer school supply campaign.

“Having our own community center now for the foundation allows us to be able to interact whenever there is a need in the community, not just during the summertime when we go live in a bus,” Rose said. “Now the schools are able to reach out to us directly to help that family in that point of need.”

Organizers say the new facility will also strengthen relationships with local schools by giving them a direct way to request assistance for students and families experiencing hardship.

Rose said the date of the grand opening, Nov. 10, carried special significance for the organization, which has spent the year striving to give an “11 out of 10” effort to the community.

With the center officially open, Stuff the Bus is already preparing for several upcoming initiatives aimed at helping families during the holiday season.

Those plans include the organization’s annual Turkey Drop ahead of Thanksgiving and a new community center initiative in December to assist families facing financial challenges during the holidays.

Rose said the goal is to help those families begin 2027 on stronger financial footing.

The nonprofit will also begin preparing for its 23rd annual Stuff the Bus campaign, continuing its tradition of collecting school supplies for children across the region.

As Stuff the Bus enters this new chapter, organizers hope the community center will provide a lasting resource for families who need assistance throughout the year.