MONTEREY COUNTY — As thousands of Monterey County students prepare to return to school this fall, more than 13,500 are doing so without stable housing.
To help meet that need, United Way Monterey County’s Stuff the Bus program will provide 6,565 backpacks filled with school supplies to students experiencing housing instability, thanks to hundreds of volunteers, community donors and business sponsors.
For many families, preparing for the new school year can be a financial challenge as household budgets are already stretched to cover rent, food and utilities. The program aims to ease that burden by providing students with backpacks and grade-appropriate school supplies.
United Way Monterey County partners with the Monterey County Office of Education to distribute the backpacks through the county’s Homeless Children and Youth Service Division, ensuring they reach students who qualify for support.
“For a child experiencing housing instability, a backpack filled with school supplies represents far more than the items inside. It provides a sense of belonging, confidence and the opportunity to begin the school year feeling prepared alongside their classmates,” said Monterey County Superintendent of Schools Deneen Guss. “We are deeply grateful to United Way Monterey County and the many generous donors and volunteers whose compassion helps remove barriers to learning and reminds our students that their community believes in them.”
United Way officials said the organization views the backpack program as one part of a broader effort to prevent financial crises by connecting families with resources, information and training that strengthen financial security, support early learning and build resilience.
“Stuff the Bus demonstrates the compassion of our community by connecting people who care with a direct way to improve the life of a child. It shows we care about each student and their academic success. Together we are making a difference,” said Katy Castagna, president and CEO of United Way Monterey County.
This school year, more than 6,500 students experiencing housing instability will return to school with backpacks filled with grade-appropriate supplies.
United Way Monterey County is accepting financial donations to help meet the growing need for the Stuff the Bus program. A $25 donation provides one backpack filled with school supplies for a student.
To donate or learn more, visit unitedwaymcca.org or contact Crystal Lopez at cr***********@***********ca.org or 831-318-1971.
