ENGELHARD — Volunteers in Hyde County are working hard to ensure students have the supplies they need this school year.

As part of the first-ever “Fill the Bus” campaign, volunteers with Davis Youth Center, Hyde County Ministerial Alliance and other churches and civic groups are encouraging residents to donate school supplies to fill up an activity bus for children in need.

Alice Mackey said the idea came to her one evening as she lay in bed, as she wanted to find a way to help offset some of the fees Hyde County Schools is charging families.

Thomas Midgette, who works with children at the youth center, said the school system recently instated a $35 technology fee for some students this year. The fee is meant to cover the costs of using technology in the classrooms, as well as keeping it running smoothly, Midgette explained, but for many families living below the poverty line, that $35 makes a big difference.

“Here in Hyde County, we’re one of the poorest counties in North Carolina,” he said. “We thought we could offset the $35 (by) helping them with the school supplies.”

Midgette said that while organizers want to collect as many supplies as possible, the overall goal is to just make sure students’ needs are met.

Mackey said the campaign is also relying on partnering churches to help fund some of the supplies, and she wants it to be a community effort.

“Our goal is to be able to provide school supplies for every student,” Midgette said. “We’re hoping not just to eliminate the financial burden on the parents, but some of the negative effects on the children.”

On Aug. 13, volunteers will be distributing the school supplies to those in need at Davis Youth Center, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Supply donations for all ages are welcome, and anyone in the county who needs assistance is welcome to come to the distribution, Mackey said.

“From Scranton all the way down to Engelhard,” she said. “We need to help our own. I want our children to say that their own county has done something for them.”

School supplies will be accepted until Aug. 13 at Davis Youth Center, 33478 U.S. Highway 264, Engelhard, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. To view school supply lists, visit www.hyde.k12.nc.us and select the “Schools” tab to see a particular school.