Stuff the Bus raises more than $5,000

COLFAX - The Colfax Kiwanis Club raised over $5,000 in three days to help students gather school supplies for returning to school this fall.

The 15th annual "Stuff the Bus" school supplies drive occurred from Thursday, Aug. 10, through Saturday, Aug. 12, in the Rosauers parking lot, 632 N. Main St.

The event brought in $1,595 from the community, Kiwanis Chapter Service Project Manager Sara Golden said, adding that the fundraiser also had very generous donors, including Whitman County Superior Court Judge Gary Libey and his wife, who contributed another $2,500.

They vowed to be lifetime Stuff the Bus donors.

Golden said Thrifty Grandmother's Shop, 118 N. Main St., donated $1,000, and the Rotary Club donated $350.

"We brought in a wonderful amount of money from the community and our generous donors," Golden said, noting that they brought in two huge tubs of donated school supplies.

Golden explained that a bus was driven in by one of the bus drivers for the event and was decorated with art made by local students.

This is the first year the Colfax Kiwanis Club hosted the fundraiser, having been newly established in December 2022.

"We are happy with how it went," Golden said, adding that Pullman Kiwanians had been running the event in previous years.

"We would love to thank Rosauers and Coco Bee for all taking part in helping support the fundraiser," Golden said, "Serfes, too."

Colfax Kiwanis Treasurer Melani Clausen went through the supplies; the club will take them to the teachers today Thursday, Aug. 24, during the evening open houses.

Golden said they collected an array of supplies including crayons, paper, pencil pouches, "all the supplies that teachers ask for, that students need," she said.

The drive was a great effort by the community, she said.