Shafter community gives to students by stuffing the bus

The Shafter Lions Club, partnering with Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, held their annual Stuff the Bus event in Shafter on Saturday, helping the students of Richland School District to be properly prepared for the school year.

"This event shows the outstanding support that the community of Shafter gives to its students," said Gilbert Alvarado, of the Shafter Lions Club.

During the event, donations were accepted at the Dollar General store parking lot, with a large school bus ready to house the items. Items accepted included backpacks, notebooks, pencils, other supplies to prepare kids for the upcoming school year.

Alvarado said that the donations will be distributed throughout the Richland School District, with all of the items staying in the local district. "This event is great for the community, and it really shows what a caring city we live in," said Rolando Hernandez, who donated four backpacks and some writing supplies to the cause. "When I was growing up, there were times that we didn't have enough paper or pencils for school. It was really hard. We didn't have events like this that helps the kids who may need it."

The event was also attended by Acelerados Offroad, the off-roading club, which displayed a variety of offroad vehicles. There were over a dozen all-terrain vehicles in the parking lot, giving the kids in attendance a thrill as they checked them out and sat in a few of them.

The event has been helping the district for over five years, each year getting more supplies added to the generous haul enjoyed by the kids who might not have enough paper, pencils, or even a backpack without some help.

"We want to thank the community, as well as the sponsors with us for the success of this event. The big winners are the kids, who will be able to begin the school year without worry."

The distribution will take place before the school year begins and will include all five of the Richland schools.