Well, kids are heading back to school and that means shopping for backpacks, notebooks, other essentials.

But some families struggle to afford basic school supplies.

A huge back to school drive in south central Kentucky has been supporting students now for more than two decades.

Laura Rogers has that story from Warren County.

And we're getting ready to welcome back, perhaps 19,000 students.

And that means thousands of students who will need fresh new school supplies to complete their assignments.

What's more important than a child walking in on that first day on that level playing field with the same backpack the school supplies?

Bowling green radio personality Tony Rose started Stuff the Bus 22 years ago.

He vowed to stay on a school bus around the clock until it was packed full of school supplies.

It's truly been remarkable.

I still remember my first experience back in 2013, and seeing Tony staying on that bus 24 over seven, sleeping there.

I cannot believe what has happened with Stop the Bus over the last 22 years.

I'm simply blown away by the generosity of this community.

What's now evolved into the Stuff the Bus Foundation offers support for school districts in at least 15 counties.

Its core mission remains the same making sure every child starts the first day of school on a level playing field.

We went.

From collecting two tons of school supplies to 20 tons.

As the foundation's charitable efforts have grown.

School faculty and staff say so has the need.

A lot of these families, they're choosing do I pay my rent?

Do I buy food?

I put gas in the car?

Or do I buy school supplies and clothes for back to school?

That's where the Family Resource and Youth Services Center and each school steps in to provide or connect families with what they need.

We've actually seen people that have never had needs before, asking for food and for clothing and for school supplies.

They're able to fulfill those requests.

Thanks to this stockpile of classroom essentials along with food, clothing, and shoes.

All of this helps tremendously.

Rebecca Perez is the family resource Center coordinator at Cumberland Trace Elementary School, where she says 60% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

So over half.

Of our 700 students would need these school supplies.

Takes a huge stress off the parents.

But then it's also the kids are very excited to know that they have the supplies when they start back to school, she says.

Meeting those physical needs gets them mentally prepared to listen and learn.

Almost every single child and every classroom will at some point touch supplies that have been donated by folks here for Stuff the Bus.

All of it helpful to start day one of the new school year.

On the right track every year.

It's really exciting when we welcome new students and are returning students for what we hope to be the best year ever.

The first day of school for Warren County is next Wednesday, August 12th.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm Laura Rogers.

That's the stuff the Bus Foundation has grown to also give scholarships, classroom grants, and even Thanksgiving meals to families and educators across south central Kentucky.