On Friday, September 23rd, dozens of dedicated United Way volunteers distributed over $30,000 worth of school supplies to 15 Keys schools benefiting the over 8000 students throughout the district.

Through generous donations from businesses and individuals up and down the Keys, UWFK was able to give out 5,500 packages of notebook paper, 2,500 boxes of crayons, 7,500 folders, and much more! Supplies are distributed to schools for children who may lack access to the resources they need to succeed in the new school year.

The 2016 Stuff the Bus drive wouldn’t have been such a success without the help of our generous community supporters. The single largest contributor are Publix Supermarkets in the Keys, donating 11 pallets of supplies through their “Tools for Schools” fundraiser. Additional sponsors of the 2016 Stuff the Bus campaign contributing over $250 worth of supplies or donations include: Big Pine and the Lower Keys Rotary, Key Largo Rotary, Cadence Investments, Hard Rock Café, Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce, Hawk’s Cay Resort, Florida Keys Electric Cooperative, Metropolitan Community Church, Key West Sunset Rotary, Shell World, Oropeza & Parks, Girls Night Out, The Westin, Marathon and the Lower Keys Association of Realtors, Iberiabank, the Upper Keys Rotary, Last Key Realty, Freewheeler Realty, Mariners Hospital, Shear Paradise Salon, Upper Keys Sailing Club, Upper Keys BPW, Florida Keys Board of Realtors, and the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce.

Steve Estes, President of the Big Pine and Lower Keys rotary states, “Big Pine and Lower Keys Rotary expends much of its time and efforts, as well as considerable financial resources, on programs and projects benefitting the youth of our community. The Stuff the Bus Campaign is a worthy recipient and one we would like to continue to support into the future. It is programs like Stuff the Bus that help us leverage our constrained resources to provide as much help as we can to as many as we can.”

This year, UWFK collected so many school supplies that they will distribute a second round of Stuff the Bus school supplies in January. Thank you to everyone who donated! Your continued support enables our organization to help children in Monroe County lead positive and productive academic careers.

Donations to support the work of UWFK and our local nonprofit partner agencies are accepted year-round. If you would like to make a donation, you can access our online giving portal by clicking the “Donate” button at http://www.keysunitedway.org. Thank you for helping us become the leader in community caring!

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About United Way of the Florida Keys:

United Way of the Florida Keys is an independent, local 501(c)(3) organization that has been supporting the Keys community for more than 30 years. UWFK supports strong working families and funds nonprofits that provide critical services to Keys residents. Money raised in the Keys stays in the Keys.

United Way also plays a unique role in convening businesses, nonprofits and government to work together to address community needs. For more information, visit our website: www.keysunitedway.org or call (305) 735-1929. Give. Advocate. Volunteer. LIVE UNITED.