Genesis Launches 3rd Annual School Supply Drive Benefiting Area Students

It's time to go school supply shopping. Once again, Genesis Health System is gathering school supplies for area students. Many families are continuing to face financial challenges this year and due to COVID, each student will need to have their own supplies.

Help Genesis “Pack The Bus’’ at three hospital campuses and at North Scott Foods in Eldridge beginning Aug. 2 and ending Aug. 5.

School buses will be parked and will accept items on:

• Aug. 2 at Genesis Medical Center, East Rusholme Street, Davenport, in the parking lot between the Heart Institute and Edgerton building;
• Aug. 3 at Genesis Medical Center, West Central Park, Davenport, on the north side/West Central Park Avenue parking lot;
• Aug. 4 at Genesis Medical Center, Silvis, in the corner of the Main Parking Lot;
• Aug. 5 at North Scott Foods, Eldridge.

Supplies will be collected each day between 7:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. Infection prevention and social distancing will be practiced. Donations can also be made online.

“There is never enough funding these days for schools to provide everything students need. We hope our own Genesis employees and the general public can help fill some of the gaps in supplies,’’ said Shirley Gusta, who is coordinating the Genesis volunteer effort. 

On average, it costs $110 to provide the required school supplies for one child. For many young families with more than one child, those funds are simply out of reach. Your charitable gift for the Genesis Pack the Bus program readies kids for a successful school year.

In 2020, Pack the Bus collected a grand total of 10,355 items with an estimated value of contributions at $19,200! In comparison, our 2019 results were estimated value of $10,241 and 7,820 items collected.

The students, families and teachers truly appreciate the support they receive through our Pack the Bus event. We want each and every student to start their school year knowing they have the supplies they need!