Kenton County students who rely on their schools' Family Resource Centers for pencils, notebooks, and folders will get a boost Thursday, July 23, when the 13th annual Stuff the Bus Challenge collects donations at the Fort Wright Chick-fil-A and four other Northern Kentucky locations.

The drive runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Anyone who drops off at least five items from the requested supply list receives a free Chick-fil-A Original Chicken Sandwich voucher, with a maximum of three vouchers per guest.

"This event provides the majority of school supplies used by the Family Resource Centers for students' use throughout the year," Mandy Munich, family resource coordinator for Kenton County Schools, said in a press release. "It has always been a tremendous help in meeting students' needs."

The challenge is structured as a friendly competition among Northern Kentucky school districts. Whichever district's supporters donate the most supplies wins an additional $250 resource reward from Chick-fil-A Northern Kentucky, according to the event organizers.

Over the program's 12-year history, nearly 70,000 supplies have been collected. In 2025, donors contributed close to 10,000 items in a single day.

Jess Dykes, the district's public information officer, confirmed donations go directly to Kenton County's Family Resource Centers for year-round distribution to students.

Why it matters locally

Kentucky ranks as the nation's fifth-poorest state, with 15.6% of residents living in poverty, according to the 2024 American Community Survey released by the U.S. Census Bureau in September 2025. The child poverty rate stands at 19%, well above the national average of 10.6%.

For Kenton County families who can't afford back-to-school shopping, the Stuff the Bus donations fill a gap that stretches from August through May.

What to bring

Organizers ask donors to bring only items from this year's requested list:

  • Pens
  • Pencils
  • Pencil boxes or pouches
  • Colored pencils
  • Dry erase markers
  • Washable markers
  • Crayons
  • Notebooks
  • Composition books
  • Plastic three-prong folders
  • Index cards
  • Binder dividers
  • Scissors
  • Erasers

Items not on the list will not be accepted.

Where to donate

Five Northern Kentucky Chick-fil-A locations are participating: Fort Wright, Houston Road, Mall Road, Newport Pavilion, and Union Promenade. Donations benefit all area school districts regardless of which location a donor visits.

The event runs July 23, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. More information is available at cfacincynky.com.