HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The annual Stuff the Bus event, hosted by BrightHouse and My 93-1 on Saturday, Nov. 9, saw an increase in donations from last year.
The event is usually held the first Saturday in December, but was held in early November this year to accommodate the weather and other events in the community.
"We are still doing inventory on all the stuff in the bus, but we think it was more than was donated last year," Sue Wray, executive director of BrightHouse, said. "It seemed to fill up more of the bus and the piles in the basement look bigger."
Wray said both the cash donations and gift cards brought in more than 2023.
"We received $699 in cash donations, which was more than last year, and six times more in gift card donations," Wray said. "We received $515 in gift card donations, which really helps us out when one of the survivors in the shelter needs something specific, like contact solution or a special type of baby formula."
Wray was pleased overall with all of the contributions and help.
"With sponsorships, it looks like we received $2964 in addition to all the stuff on the bus, which was $1200 more than last year, so it was a really successful Stuff the Bus," Wray said.
BrightHouse provides confidential support to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Services are free to to anyone in Reno, Kingman and Harper counties.