By Tatum Hearn
While it might feel like school just let out for summer, we are now less than a month away from the start of a new school year. For many, it can be exciting, but for others in our community, it is a reminder of another expense when finances are already tight.
Now in its third year, the Boerne Fire Department is hosting its annual Stuff the Truck event where members of the community are encouraged to donate school supplies to help students at Boerne Independent School District, where almost one in six children are eligible for the National School Lunch Program.
The first weekend of donations took place at the Boerne H-E-B Plus! on July 13 and 14 and was a success, according to Boerne Firefighter Santiago Anaya, who has spearheaded the initiative since its inception in 2022.
“We had an amazing turnout over the weekend with 15 shopping carts full of supplies, and we received a decent amount of cash donations, as well,” Anaya said. “Our goal is to fill 500 backpacks with supplies, so hopefully we will be able to reach our goal.”
To make sure the supplies end up in the hands of students who need them most, the Fire Department has partnered this year with Love Kendall County Kids.
“We are so thrilled to be able to collaborate with the Boerne Fire Department and BISD for this back-to-school drive,” LKCK Chairwoman Beth Webster said. “Our whole mission is to extend a helping hand to children in need, and this drive embodies that statement.”
Love Kendall County Kids is a 100 percent volunteer-driven organization that provides for children and families in need in Kendall County. They started out by providing lunches in the summer to children eligible for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs but have since evolved into a variety of programs that last throughout the entire year.
If you are interested in donating, Stuff the Truck continues July 20 and 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Boerne H-E-B Plus! on W. Bandera Road.
