A partnership of local organizations and businesses has facilitated a campaign that will aid families with limited resources in sending their children back to school this year.

Beaufort County Schools’ Stuff the Bus campaign, with backing from the Beaufort County United Way and participation from Walmart, was held Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Walmart in Washington. The school supply drive is an annual effort to stock local schools with surplus school supplies for students whose families have limited resources and income.

“We’re working with the school district to get supplies for the children who need supplies for when they come back to school in the fall,” said Beaufort County United Way Executive Director Sally Love. “We’re excited to do this partnership.”

With rain on Saturday and this year being the first in more than a decade that North Carolina will not have a tax-free weekend, BCS Student Services Director Nicole Howard said the campaign traffic has not been as heavy as in past years.

“Since the rain tapered off, things have picked up, and I think we had a good turnout,” Howard said. “It’s not as heavy as it’s been in the past since there’s no tax-free weekend, but overall it’s been pretty good.”

Washington Walmart Store Manager Jason Perry said customers have been spreading their shopping expenses over several weeks rather than the traditional three-day tax-free weekend. However, Walmart has seen a steady flow of donations to the collection bins at its entrances and has been a key factor in the campaign’s success due to its consumer traffic.

“Walmart knows we have the foot traffic coming in the building,” Perry said. “Our customers are all good people and they want to share and contribute. Being a part of the community, that’s the big thing. We’re a big company, but this store serves this community, this county, this town, so it’s important for us to be part of that and partner every chance we get. Historically, this has been a good turnout for us.”

The school supplies collected will be taken directly to schools across the county, Howard said. The bus, which was parked in front of Walmart to collect supplies, is driven to each school and supplies are dropped off. Supplies like crayons and markers go to elementary schools while pens are normally given to high schools. Guidance counselors at each school hold the materials and when a student is in need, that student or his or her parent can go to the guidance counselor or the student’s teacher to get the needed supplies, Howard said.

“I know it’s needed for the kids, so it’s something we like to do each year to try to make sure the kids have exactly what they need,” said John Cotton Tayloe teacher and Stuff the Bus volunteer Cassie Moore. “Being in the classroom, I know and see things that the kids need, and this is just a good way of getting them what they need.”

In addition to Saturday’s drive at Walmart, another local business has decided to participate in helping equip Beaufort County students with the necessary supplies. Bojangles in Washington will host another campaign on Aug. 9 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. in its parking lot on Carolina Avenue.