Communities In Schools of San Antonio (CIS-SA), in partnership with H-E-B, KENS 5, and iHeartRadio, has officially launched the 2026 Stuff The Bus School Supply Drive, one of the region’s largest annual back-to-school initiatives. The campaign aims to raise $565,000 in school supplies and donations to support more than 115 schools across 17 school districts in six counties, ensuring students have the tools they need to begin the school year ready to learn.
“We believe every child has the potential to succeed when given the right support,” said Jessica Weaver, CEO of Communities In Schools of San Antonio. “By ensuring students have access to essential school supplies, we’re investing in their confidence, academic success, and their future.”
For more than 20 years, Stuff The Bus has united the San Antonio community around a simple mission: helping local students succeed. While backpacks, notebooks, and pencils are the most visible part of the campaign, organizers say the impact goes much deeper. For many students, receiving school supplies is their first connection with a CIS-SA campus office, where they can also access mentoring, counseling, academic support, food assistance, and other services that help remove barriers to success.
Last year, the campaign raised more than $564,000 thanks to the generosity of the community. This year, CIS-SA hopes to build on that momentum and reach its $565,000 goal to support even more students and families across South Texas.
Residents can support the campaign in several ways. Donations can be made at checkout while shopping at participating H-E-B stores, through H-E-B curbside and home delivery orders, on the My H-E-B app, or online at www.stuffthebus.cissa.org. Every contribution helps provide essential classroom supplies for students who may otherwise begin the school year without them.
The annual Stuff The Bus Day will take place on Saturday, August 1, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with CIS-SA staff and volunteers collecting new school supply donations at 52 participating H-E-B stores in San Antonio, Kerrville, and Uvalde. Bright yellow Stuff The Bus donation barrels will also be available at most San Antonio H-E-B locations throughout the campaign, making it easy for shoppers to give while they shop.
For more than 40 years, Communities In Schools of San Antonio has worked to surround students with a community of support, helping them stay in school and achieve brighter futures. As one of 135 Communities In Schools affiliates nationwide, the organization places site coordinators directly on school campuses to connect students and families with resources including healthcare, counseling, academic assistance, food, and other critical support services.
As families prepare for a new school year, Stuff The Bus remains one of San Antonio’s most impactful community efforts, giving thousands of students the confidence to walk into the classroom prepared and ready to succeed.
To learn more or make a donation, visit www.stuffthebus.cissa.org or www.cissa.org.
