Martin Volunteers is gearing up for its eighth annual School Supplies for Students Drive, with the trademark “little red schoolhouses” going out to collection points on July 10, and a Stuff the Bus event scheduled for Aug. 2.

The School Supplies for Students Drive responds to a strong need in the community and seeks to make the start of the school year a little easier for thousands of students. Last year, the drive collected and distributed nearly 39,000 items for 7,000 students in preschool through 12th grade, and the need is the same this year. The drive serves youngsters throughout Martin County who qualify for the free and reduced-price lunch program.

Collection will occur July 11-Aug. 11. Items needed include pens, pencils, pencil boxes, glue sticks, binders, two-pocket folders, crayons, colored pencils, markers, scissors, rulers, erasers, notebook paper, subject notebooks, and composition books.

The drive received a major boost this year thanks to a sponsorship by Publix Super Markets Charities Inc. Also, Martin Volunteers, a program of United Way of Martin County, has planned a new event to raise awareness and bring in more supplies: On Aug. 2, the public is invited to bring supplies to “Stuff the Bus." A yellow school bus will be parked at the end of St. Lucie Avenue (which intersects with Osceola Street near the Ashley restaurant).

Here are other ways the community can help:

* Plan a drive or school supplies party at your place business. Think along the lines of the way you would handle a toy drive at holiday time.

* Drop off donations at the little red schoolhouses, which are located inside four Martin County library branches (Blake, Hoke, Hobe Sound and Morgade), the Martin Memorial Palm City Health & Fitness Center, and the Publix at Cove Road and U.S. 1. Other collection points are listed at www.martinvolunteers.org/schoolsupplies.

* Make a monetary contribution to the drive. This is the best way to help the most children, as Martin Volunteers can buy in bulk to stretch donations.

“Funds for this project are severely limited, and a little goes a long way,” said Anne Lalley, project coordinator. “For as little as $20, for example, you can supply a child with the essential items to begin the school year.”

You can make payments online or via mail. Go to www.martinvolunteers.org/schoolsupplies to use PayPal, or make checks payable to Martin Volunteers/School Supplies and mail to School Supplies Drive, PO Box 362, Stuart, FL  34995.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Anne Lalley, project coordinator, at (772) 220-4472, ext. 232 or alalley@martinvolunteers.org.

Information about the School Supplies Drive and all Martin Volunteers projects is available at www.martinvolunteers.org.