Stuff the Bus supports Mansfield City Schools S.A.F.E. Homeless Program

It's year two for Sluss Stuff the Bus and the need for school supplies and more is greater than ever for youths experiencing homelessness.

Sluss Stuff the Bus will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday at the Ontario Sluss Realty office, 1641 Park Avenue West. A large Mansfield City School bus parked out front and agents, along with Miss Ontario Jaslyn Lopez and members from the district, will be ready to help donors unload and go.

The event will, once again, support the Mansfield City Schools S.A.F.E. Program, which is currently assisting an estimated 365 homeless students, according to Jami Kinton Sluss, marketing director at Sluss Realty.

General school supplies are needed, but so are things such as handheld toys, diapers, puzzles, blankets and pillows.

The list of items needed include skinny markers, pencils, index cards, highlighters, handheld toys and puzzles, laundry soap (hypo-allergenic preferred), chapstick, shampoo/conditioner, pillows (pillowcases), paper plates and plasticware, Clorox, toilet paper, Band-Aids, neosporin, post-it notes, crayons, gluesticks, Playdough, workbooks, small dolls and stuffed animals, hairbrushes, body wash, blankets and throws, dish soap, lotion, and diapers and wipes.

The S.A.F.E. Homeless Program is a collaborative effort by the Mansfield City Schools, local shelters and the community to provide supplemental educational services to children and youth who are experiencing homelessness. S.A.F.E. is funded through the McKinney-Vento Act and serves hundreds of children and youth annually.

“When we talk about homelessness, it doesn’t mean they’re living under a bridge,” said S.A.F.E Project Assistant Barb Kern. “They’re in a motel or hotel, which a lot of our local churches are amazing at supplying funding for. Many of these children are couch surfing, so the public doesn’t think that they are housing insecure because they’re not wandering the streets — but they need just as much help.

"Many of these families are doubling up, but then what happens when the landlord hears and evicts them? Now two families are without housing. Something as small as a handheld toy is more important than you can imagine. That’s a child’s security and most of the time, it’ll keep them out of trouble with mom and dad. These situations are already stressful, and mom and dad are already irritable and if a kid had something to entertain them, it could stop abuse just by staying out of their parent’s hair. For the older kids, blankets are their security. It’s psychological. The Dollar Store is a great place to get a lot of these things.”

The Grunt Grub food truck, which has fresh-made burgers and fries, will also be on site from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Kathy Goodwin, a community health worker focusing on housing and security, helps focus on the parents, saying she’s “halfway between a secretary and a friend” to the families. She refers them to health programs, attends truancy hearings, helps parents fill out applications, refers social services and so much more.

The S.A.F.E program allows parents to walk into a giant room, housed within the board office, filled with clothing, personal care items, toys and so much more and allows them to pick what they need.

While several programs, businesses and individuals have generously donated to the S.A.F.E. program, Kern said Sluss Stuff the Bus is their largest drive to date.

“Drives like these allow us to focus more on the kids and the families so that we’re not having to completely worry about keeping all of these things in stock,” Goodwin said. “The donations and support make a direct difference in the lives of these children. It’s not just about homelessness, it was also about awareness of the program.”

When asked what is most needed, Barb said, “We are always in need of everything on that list. We could get rid of 10 pillows in one day and those could have sat for a month. We just never know what’s needed.”

Kinton-Sluss said she's excited for Sluss to host the event once again.

"The community came out and really supported us last year and we're truly hoping for another successful year," she said. "It takes a village and our team is really excited to have another opportunity to help give back to kids and families who truly need it."

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