Business getting ready to ‘Stuff the Bus’
School supply donations are welcome through Friday
After a successful few weeks of the community donating school supplies, Bahnam Builders is ready to Stuff the Bus this weekend.
The community is welcome to join the business in celebrating the success of the inaugural campaign, which will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 20, at Bahnam Builders, 4218 S.W. 17th Ave.
Stuff the Bus Coordinator Queen Ellis said they are asking the community to come out and cheer them on, as they load up.
The supplies will be transported by Oasis High School transportation staff to Christian Life Fellowship, which will organize and distribute the supplies to local families on Aug. 1.
“This event is a celebration of what can happen when a community comes together to support its children,” Bahnam Builders owner Alan Bahnam said in a prepared statement. “Every notebook, pencil, backpack, and binder donated represents an opportunity for a student to begin the school year with confidence.”
Ellis said they started collecting donations on June 1. As of Wednesday, they had counted 38,241 items – an assortment of such supplies as glue sticks, markers, crayons, backpacks, scissors, and rulers.
“Bahnam Builders has a heart to give and wanted to be more charitable,” she said.
Ellis said although we live in the land of paradise, there are still kids that do not have what they need. ”A lot of times Cape Coral is lost in the shuffle. Even though there are affluent people, there are kids in need,” she said.
Ellis said they are trying to serve 300 families with the Stuff the Bus campaign.
Co-owner Ava Bahnam said they have been building homes since 2016 and wanted to give back because they have been so blessed, and the community has been so good to them. She said they wanted to bring the community together and help the kids in the city of Cape Coral.
Ava said they have had businesses, neighbors, Mayor John Gunter and other members of Cape Coral City Council step up in a big way to support the campaign. She said they were not sure how well it would come together, but are very impressed with the support they have received.
“It’s amazing to see what can happen when people come together for a good cause. We are very thankful for everyone’s generous donations and time, and we look forward to getting these backpacks to the kids,” she said. “It will 100% absolutely become an annual thing. We have other plans to support other types of charities as well.”
School supply donations will continue to be accepted until Friday at 5 p.m., at Bahnam Builders, 4218 S.W. 17th Ave.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com