Details About Stuff the Bus at the Madison Street Festival

Often, when students are quietly in need, they turn to a trusted teacher, who usually ensures their students don’t go without. They take care of their students’ needs right out of their own pockets (stipends that teachers receive to purchase items for their classrooms typically don’t permit the purchase of hygiene items, extra snacks, etc.)

With all of this in mind, the quickly-approaching Madison Street Festival has a new element designed to make a big impact to meet these quiet needs. Whenever you get 40,000 people in one place, really cool things can happen. So Madison, let’s do something really cool together!

The 42nd annual Madison Street Festival is coming up on Saturday, October 5th, and this year, attendees are invited to STUFF THE BUS!

“Stuff the Bus” is an opportunity to quite literally STUFF A SCHOOL BUS with necessary items that are just a little bit outside of the normal “school supplies collection” box. All of these items will be collected and stuffed on a school bus at this year’s Madison Street Festival.

When you arrive at the festival on October 5th, you’re invited to head to the school bus (parked at Front and Sullivan St.) and add your items to the collection that’s building on the bus.

Desired items include hygiene items, individually packed snacks, and individualized classroom supplies. These items are so important because if a teacher can meet a student’s quiet need, that student can remove the distraction of feeling unclean or hungry and hopefully feel better equipped to have a good school day.

1. Deodorant

2. Body wipes

3. Bar of soap

4. Laundry pods

5. Individually packaged snacks

6. Kleenex

7. Clorox Wipes (keeping a clean classroom is so imperative for students and teachers alike!)

8. Single paper towel rolls

9. Sanitary pads

If you’re like me, you might be curious about what happens with the donated supplies.

The answer: The week after the Madison Street Festival, several individuals from Madison City Schools and the Madison Street Festival will hop on the bus and drive it around to schools within the district, allowing teachers to stock up on items they could use in their classrooms.

I will take you along for the ride (literally!), both at the Madison Street Festival and AFTER the festival when the bus goes from school to school to drop off supplies.

If you love everything about “Stuff the Bus” but can’t make it to the festival this year, the following businesses are collecting donations:

Let’s stuff the bus, Madison! We’ll see you at the Madison Street Festival on Saturday, October 5th between 9am and 4pm!

Psst: Have additional questions about Stuff the Bus? Email Crystal McBrayer at msf.pres@gmail.com