Northeast Arkansas showed up in a big way for local students this back-to-school season, donating more than 33,000 school supplies during the 21st Annual Stuff the Bus campaign. The community-wide drive, reported by Jonesboro Right Now, marked another milestone year for one of the region’s most beloved charitable traditions.

Stuff the Bus has been a cornerstone of back-to-school giving in the NEA area for more than two decades, rallying residents, businesses, and organizations to ensure that students head into the new school year with the supplies they need to succeed. Reaching the 33,000-item mark is a testament to the generosity that defines this community year after year.

The campaign’s 21-year run speaks volumes about the staying power of neighbor-helping-neighbor spirit in Jonesboro and the surrounding region. Whether it was a single box of crayons or a backpack stuffed to the brim, every donation added up to make a real difference for children who might otherwise start the school year without basic necessities.

In other uplifting local news, St. Bernards Medical Center recently celebrated the reopening of its remodeled and expanded gift shop, giving patients, families, and staff a refreshed space to browse and shop right on campus. The ribbon-cutting marks a welcome improvement to the hospital experience for the many people who pass through St. Bernards’ doors each day.

Together, these stories reflect a Jonesboro community that invests in its children, supports its institutions, and finds meaningful ways to care for one another — and that’s always worth celebrating.

Sources: Jonesboro Right Now, Jonesboro Right Now