This Saturday, local youth groups and the United Way will host the first annual “Stuff the Bus” campaign, a school-supply donation program for low-income, Pre-K through 12th grade students in the area.

Raising money and collecting school supplies for Norman’s less fortunate children, the big event will be kid-friendly with face painting and visits from special guests from the OU men’s and women’s gymnastic teams, and OU men’s soccer team, said Emily Furney, United Way children and youth council director.

“We are trying to make it a fun, carnival-type event,” Furney said. “We have got a Norman public school bus out there and we are hoping to collect enough school supplies to stuff the entire bus on Saturday.”

The youth groups involved in the program — the Norman Interact Clubs of Norman North, Norman High and the United Way Teen Advisers of Norman — also are collecting supplies at various drop-off points in the community from now until Saturday for those that cannot attend the event.

A backpack full of supplies to fulfill one student’s needs costs $30. The goal of this year’s “Stuff the Bus” is to provide enough support for 425 students. The campaign this year ties in with the United Way’s ABC School Supply program, which circulates school supplies to families in the community that couldn’t purchase them, Furney said.

“We are hoping this weekend people will come out to the event, donate some school supplies, meet the athletes, and hopefully stuff the bus,” she said.

The event lasts from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the Sooner Mall parking lot.

Drop Off Locations

• BancFirst: 1201 W. Main St. or 333 E. 12th Ave.

• First American Bank: 570 NW 24th Avenue or 801 NE 12th Avenue

• Republic Bank and Trust: Robinson and 36th NW or Lindsey and 12th St. SE OR 401 W. Main St.

• United Way of Norman: 550 NW 24th Avenue (Next to Sooner Bowling Alley)

Source: United Way