Help the United Way Stuff the Bus for Kids

HOLYOKE — The United Way of Pioneer Valley, in partnership with Peter Pan Bus Co., is collecting school supplies to fill more than 1,300 backpacks for children who are homeless in Springfield, Holyoke, Westfield, Chicopee, West Springfield, and South Hadley.

From July 24 to Aug. 8, local companies and stores will hold collection drives for donations of school supplies (locations and dates to be determined). Backpacks will be delivered right to the schools. The Stuff the Bus kickoff event will be held on Friday, July 24 at 10 a.m. at the Holyoke Mall.

The 2015 Stuff the Bus sponsors include Amica Insurance, the city of Springfield, Comcast, Excel Dryer, Health New England, Lenox Industrial Tools, Staples Foundation, and Westfield Bank. The 2015 community partners are Holyoke Mall, MassMutual Financial Group, Merriam-Webster, Six Flags Great Adventures, and Westover Job Corps.