Help Stuff the Bus with School Supplies for Grand Junction District 51 Students

It's a lot easier to remember what your old backpack or lunchbox looked like than how much it cost. School supplies in Colorado are expensive, and there’s nothing like the sticker shock in some back-to-school aisle when your family is trying to stay on budget.

Each July, Stuff the Bus at Mesa Mall is one of the ways our community collects school supplies for students and teachers in need in Mesa County Valley School District 51. This year’s supply drive starts now. Keep scrolling and discover how you can help, and what school supplies are in need.

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Why Every School Supply Donation Matters in District 51

Donations are sorted at Clock Court in the Mesa Mall

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Every notebook, backpack, and box of crayons donated through Stuff the Bus helps local students start the school year off better prepared to participate. District 51 schools publish grade-specific supply lists because classroom needs vary by age, and donated supplies help families stretch their budgets. When you donate school supplies to stuff the bus, you help ensure students have the basics for the first day of school. See the lists here.

What to Donate and Where to Find District 51 Supply Lists

The most requested donations include backpacks, pencils, crayons, markers, glue sticks, notebooks, folders, tissues, dry-erase markers, headphones, and hand sanitizer. Since supply requirements vary by school and grade level, families can download their student's official supply list directly from the District 51 website before back-to-school shopping starts.

Where to Drop Off Your Stuff for the Bus Donations

Donations are sorted at Clock Court in the Mesa Mall

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Grand Junction residents can donate new school supplies by visiting the bus inside Mesa Mall (near Dillards), the Credit Union of Colorado (202 Main St., Grand Junction), Western Colorado Pediatrics (3150 N. 12th St., Grand Junction), or its Fruita office at 456 Kokopelli Drive, Unit D. Every donation stays local, helping District 51 students head back to class with the supplies they need for a successful school year. Tap the button below to donate directly to the D51 foundation, and they'll do the shopping for you.