Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive Underway

The United Way of Eddy County likes big buses, and we do know why- a packed bus means that plenty of school supplies are being raised to support Eddy County’s students.

An annual county-wide collaborative effort to raise school supplies for area students and schools is underway. Once again, the United Way’s signature contribution will be Stuff the Bus. From July 11-13, dozens of volunteers will position themselves outside of Carlsbad’s Walmart and ask for store guests to donate school supplies.

Teams participating in this year’s event are Devon Energy, Flogistix, SIMCO, ConocoPhillips, Intrepid Potash, the Top Notch Cheerleaders, LifeHouse, the Guardians of the Children, the Elks Lodge/Elks Riders, Eddy County Office of Emergency Management and Mewbourne Oil Company. Teams will be engaged in a friendly competition with last year’s winner, Devon Energy, for the highly coveted “Big Bus Award.”

School supplies raised during this event will be used to support the classrooms at Carlsbad Municipal Schools, Jefferson Montessori Academy, the Boys & Girls Club of Carlsbad and Loving Municipal Schools.

Additionally, the United Way of Eddy County is partnering with the Written in Red Foundation Inc. and is assisting financially and with volunteer support at the 6th Annual School Supply Drive in Artesia and North Eddy County. This event will take place Aug. 1 and 2.

Thanks to its generous sponsors, the United Way is also providing financial support to the Faith, Hope & Love Foundation and Assistance League of Carlsbad with annual the annual “Packing” and “Dress Up Day” events in South Eddy County. Activities run through July.

Sponsors for the 2025 Stuff the Bus event include Devon Energy, Permian Resources, ConocoPhillips, Coterra Energy, Artesia Walmart and the Devasthali Family Foundation (funds are awarded with assistance from the Community foundation of Southern New Mexico).

In-kind assistance is also being provided by Valley Transportation and Carlsbad Walmart. Supplies may also be dropped off at the Edward Jones office at 1204 W. Pierce St. in Carlsbad. For more information, please contact Kyle Marksteiner at director@uweddyco.org or (575) 689-1237.