Stuff The Bus 2025 Unites Tomball Community to Support Students in Need
With the first bell of the 2025–2026 school year already rung across Tomball ISD, the Tomball Education Foundation (TEF) has successfully concluded one of its most beloved and impactful traditions: the Stuff The Bus school supply drive. The initiative officially wrapped up on August 8, thanks to widespread community involvement and generous support from local students, businesses, and volunteers.
Held between July 28 and August 8, this year’s campaign once again brought out the heart of the Tomball community. The effort focused on ensuring that every student — regardless of economic circumstance — started the school year with the tools they needed to succeed, including backpacks, notebooks, pencils, crayons, and other essential supplies.
TEF President Kristy McCoy emphasized that the drive served not only as a way to assist students in need, but also as a meaningful opportunity for young people across the district to help their peers — building a culture of empathy and shared success.
Spring Momentum and Student Involvement
In preparation for the summer campaign, the foundation launched its Stuff The Bus Spring Drive in May 2025, engaging 5th through 8th grade classrooms across the district. Participating students enthusiastically collected supplies, and the most generous classrooms were rewarded with ice cream parties, extra recess, and even Chick-fil-A cookie parties with the brand’s iconic cow mascot.
The Tomball Education Foundation expressed appreciation for its ongoing partnerships with Chick-fil-A Hwy. 249/Jones Road, as well as the Cypress-Rosehill and State Road 2920/I-99 locations, which helped drive participation throughout the campaign.
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Local Spirit Drives Donations
A highlight of this year’s drive was the August 7 Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A Hwy. 249, which served as both a celebration and a final push for donations. TEF also partnered with community youth programs — including the Liberty Bells, Patriots and Sophisticats, and Redcats — to collect supplies and raise awareness. The involvement of these All-American Youth football and drill teams helped elevate the campaign’s visibility across Tomball.
Collection sites were strategically set up throughout the district, including high school campuses and popular local businesses, making it easy for families and residents to contribute.
Supplies That Make a Difference
The wide variety of donated supplies included essentials like backpacks, binders, pencils, pens, composition notebooks, colored pencils, crayons, glue sticks, scissors, dry-erase markers, erasers, pencil pouches, markers in various styles, and reinforced wide-ruled paper.
All donations were tax-deductible, and many families and business owners took the opportunity to support the district in a way that was both impactful and personal.
While the summer drive has ended, TEF remains ready to respond to student needs throughout the school year. School staff can reach out when supplies are needed, and the foundation will continue providing support on an as-needed basis — ensuring students are never left without the essentials.
Led by Volunteers, Fueled by Purpose
The success of the 2025 drive was made possible by the strategic planning and passion of TEF’s Events & Marketing Committee, a volunteer-led group that oversees and evaluates the foundation’s fundraising and outreach programs. From analyzing past campaigns to designing fresh, engaging approaches, the committee’s work keeps TEF’s mission on track and community participation strong.
While the Tomball Education Foundation has seen success with other key initiatives like Boots and Bling and State of the District, Stuff The Bus remains a flagship program that continues to grow in both reach and impact.
With the 2025 campaign officially in the books, students are now settling into their classrooms — many of them with brand-new supplies made possible through community generosity. According to TEF volunteers, the campaign wasn’t just about handing out backpacks and pencils — it was about giving students dignity, opportunity, and a tangible reminder that their community believes in them.
For continued coverage of Tomball ISD programs, volunteer opportunities, and local community events, stay tuned with My Neighborhood News.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
