The Fill the Bus school supplies drive has accepted thousands of donations of materials ranging from crayons to glue sticks, calculators and water bottles.
Organizers will set up tables at the Northeast Range Nighthawks Back to School Open House on Tuesday, Sept. 1 from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m, where students can take supplies at no cost.
Should Fill the Bus organizers fulfill their supply collection goals, every Northeast Range student could fulfill their back-to-school shopping list from the large pool of donated materials.
Per an update on Tuesday, Aug. 25, about half of the 4,000-supply goal was complete, with more donation deliveries in the works for later in the week.
Donations will be accepted until Friday, Aug. 28 at the Babbitt branch of the Ely Area Credit Union.
Billie Rouse, one of the organizers, said the Fill the Bus event at the Babbitt Farmers Market on Aug. 13 was a hit.
“The town was just there. The town was really on it,” Rouse said. “Everybody was having a blast.”
An Itty Bitty Babbitt Pantry and the Babbitt Ambulance Department collaborated to make the event a success.
Alongside EMS personnel, Babbitt’s police and fire departments also pulled up to hand out stuffed animals to children and chat with local residents.
“Neighbors were filling a bus with school supplies for our kids while the Babbitt Farmers Market was open and a free concert is playing. It was a great evening,” said Babbitt Mayor Andrea Zupancich.
“That’s our town at its best—people showing up so students start the year ready, bakers, artists, crafters, book writers, canned goods all have a place to sell, and families can gather without it costing extra. EMTs and police officers were there too and our firefighters.
“These simple things happen because folks here still look after each other. I’m proud to serve as mayor in this community and hopefully your next Senator.”
A local garage band called “The Salad Bar” performed their debut show that evening, in addition to a performance by the Beez Kneez.
Even State Sen. Grant Hauschild was in the audience for the brand new band of young Babbitt residents. Hauschild wrote on social media that The Salad Bar “absolutely crushed it.”
Attendees at the Fill the Bus gathering could compete for trophies in cornhole and cribbage tournaments or enjoy hot dogs, chips and watermelon provided by the Ely Zup’s store.
Rouse said one the most exciting donations has been a set of scientific calculators paid for by the Ely Area Credit Union, meaning no student in advanced math will need to worry about purchasing one.
“Seeing the effort is amazing. Knowing what little towns can do when they put their minds to it is astounding,” Rouse said.
Fill the Bus’s future in Babbitt will depend upon the need demonstrated at the upcoming open house. If all supplies are distributed, said Rouse, organizers would have a strong incentive to put on the event next year.
“We have all these wonderful supplies and we’re going to be able to take care of so many things for kids and parents,” Rouse said. “I’m super excited about that.”
