Gabe Stark
Reporter

Bright Futures Trenton will partner with First Student Transportation Services throughout July to collect school supplies and personal-care products for Grundy County students preparing for the 2026-27 school year.

The annual “Stuff the Bus” campaign will feature five collection periods at Trenton businesses on three consecutive Saturdays. Donations collected during the campaign will be distributed through the Grundy County Back to School Event, scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 6.

The first collection will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at Dollar General, 301 Main St.

Two collections are planned for Saturday, July 18. Volunteers will accept donations from 9 to 11 a.m. at Dollar General, 1844 E. Ninth St., before moving to Dollar General Market, 2717 Meadowlark Lane, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The campaign will conclude Saturday, July 25, with donations collected from 9 to 11 a.m. at Hy-Vee, 1617 E. Ninth St., and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hostetler’s Market, 2006 E. Ninth St.

Residents are encouraged to shop locally and purchase one or more requested items while visiting the participating stores.

Requested personal-care and household products include laundry detergent; family-size bottles of body wash, shampoo and conditioner; disinfecting wipes; baby wipes; and facial tissues.

School supplies being collected include backpacks, glue sticks, one-subject college-ruled spiral notebooks, 24-count boxes of Crayola crayons and No. 2 pencils in packages of 12, 18, 20 or 24.

The items will help Bright Futures Trenton provide resources during the Aug. 6 back-to-school event. Information shared by the organization indicates the event is expected to offer school supplies, backpacks, new shoes and haircuts for area students in need.

The community has provided strong support for previous Stuff the Bus campaigns. In 2024, Bright Futures Trenton reported collecting more than 380 items during its first two July collection events. The organization also received more than $4,500 raised through the Wheels and Wine Car Show that year.

Additional information about the Grundy County Back to School Event is expected to be released closer to Aug. 6.