Every summer, local nonprofit Family Connection helps collect school supplies for the school system to distribute to local children and families in need when classes go back in the fall.
Each year, the school system provides over 500 backpacks full of school supplies to local families, and the backpacks and school supplies are provided through Family Connection’s “Stuff the Bus” school supply drive and other local community partners.
This year, Family Connection is asking for extra help from the community due to one of the major donors of the initiative being no longer able to contribute, according to a recent announcement by Family Connection. This equates to a $12,000 to $14,000 shortfall in the funding that helps provide the backpacks and school supplies.
“Your support would make a tangible difference in the lives of hundreds of local students and families,” the organization said in the announcement. “We hope you will consider joining us in this urgent effort to equip our future leaders for success.”
Those interested in supporting the “Stuff the Bus” school supply drive can do so in one or more ways, including:
- Ordering school supplies directly off of Family Connection’s Amazon wishlist. Supplies ordered from here will ship directly to Family Connection for distribution. To view or order from the Amazon wishlist, go to a.co/5MZezIQ
- Dropping off supplies at the Family Connection office, located at 45 Medical Center Drive (in a shared building with the Good Shepherd Clinic)
- Making a monetary donation. Monetary donations can be sent to Dawson County Family Connection, P.O. Box 872, Dawsonville, GA, 30534
- Hosting an on-site collection bin at any local business or organization. To set up a collection, call Family Connection at 706-265-1981 or email rbliss@dawsonfamilyconnection.org
- Dropping off supplies at any of the existing collection bins. The current businesses and organizations hosting collection bins include Associated Credit Union (4200 Dawson Forest Road), Dawson County Department of Public Health (54 Highway 53 West), Dawsonville City Hall (415 Highway 53 West) and K.A.R.E. for Kids (66 Highway 53 West)
Families with children who will need a backpack going into the 2025-26 school year can sign up online by going to https://forms.gle/dc1CD1X1sCYsa2fx9.
Link to Dawson County News Article HERE