'Operation: Stuff the Bus' reaches 7th year
OCALA, Fla. — Marion County’s seventh annual “Operation: Stuff the Bus” campaign kicked off Saturday with donation collections at an area Wal-Mart st...
OCALA, Fla. — Marion County’s seventh annual “Operation: Stuff the Bus” campaign kicked off Saturday with donation collections at an area Wal-Mart store.
The outreach program is co-sponsored by Marion County Public Schools, the Public Education Foundation of Marion County, and the Military Officers Association, Kingdom of the Sun Chapter.
"Operation: Stuff the Bus" collects donations from local residents to benefit homeless children. Needed items include new school supplies, children’s clothing, shoes, books and games, personal hygiene items, gifts cards and financial contributions.
To date, the campaign has collected over $252,000 in donations and merchandise, which have been distributed through the school district’s Homeless Children Program.
A decorated school bus with ample room to “stuff” donations inside will be parked at area stores every Saturday through Aug. 2. On Aug. 5, the campaign will host a local government participation day, “Super Tuesday.”
For more information, contact the school district’s Homeless Children Program at (352) 671-6847 or Stuff the Bus Chairman Jim Chandler at (352) 237-3139 or jimcha62463@embarqmail.com.
More Safety
When Every Second Matters, Clarity Keeps Routes Moving
From routine delays to urgent incidents, strong communication practices help drivers, dispatchers, schools, and families respond with confidence.
Read More →
What Happens When a School Bus Catches Fire — and What Can Help
School bus fires are rare but can be devastating. Learn how advances in fire suppression and asset protection help fleets detect fires earlier, reduce damage, and improve safety.
Read More →
Geotab Launches Tool to Help Fleets Investigate Road Incidents
Geotab Investigations combines telematics data, video, documents, and other evidence to help fleets reconstruct incidents, resolve claims, and determine what happened.
Read More →
Texas Sixth Grader Wins 2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest
Sai Darshana Yekolu of Moseley Middle School in Prosper, Texas, was named the newest winner for her artwork, bringing the theme of “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” to life.
Read More →
Doing More With Less: How Transportation Directors Can Prioritize Safety Amid Budget Uncertainty
With diesel prices soaring and nearly one-third of transportation directors expecting budget cuts, maintaining student safety has never been more challenging. Download this guide to learn how leading districts are prioritizing risk, funding critical safety technology, and building stronger budget cases with data.
Read More →
Walton County Schools Adds Gatekeeper Stop-Arm Enforcement System
The Florida district will deploy Gatekeeper’s updated Student Protector technology, which now incorporates AI to improve video evidence.
Read More →
How To Build a More Secure School Bus Yard During and After Hours
As thefts and overnight security threats continue, school transportation leaders are combining stronger operational practices with AI-enabled surveillance to better protect buses, facilities, and staff.
Read More →
FMCSA Names New Chief Safety Officer: What School Bus Operators Should Know
Steve Dowling is set to lead the federal agency's efforts to advance commercial motor vehicle safety and reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the nation's roadways.
Read More →
New Study Finds School Zone Speed Safety Cameras Cut Speeding Violations 97%
A Florida university's research demonstrates that Verra Mobility's automated enforcement changes driver behavior and significantly improves school zone safety.
Read More →
What Changed in DOT’s New National Roadway Safety Strategy?
The federal agency's new plan shifts its focus to safer people, roads and vehicles, with a new three-pronged approach instead of five. One outlined action even addresses a key industry concern around illegal school bus passing.
Read More →