EC's Kickoff To Stuff The Bus Starts With Cram The Cruiser

Darren Doyle, Edmonson Voice
Make plans to participate in "Cram The Cruiser" this Friday, July 17th, which is Edmonson County's event to help the region's most recognized area-wide school supply fundraising event, "Stuff The Bus," with WDNS D93's Tony Rose. Don't be fooled by other similar local events that are actually for-profit by other outlets; if it doesn't say "Stuff The Bus," then you'll probably just want to skip it.

"The cool thing about Brownsville and Edmonson County is, they're like the gold standard for what all other counties should do," said Tony Rose, who heads up STB. "The more that counties do at home to help with Stuff The Bus, the more they get back when the supplies are distributed throughout the area."

Rose said that the total amount donated to STB through individual counties is matched (within reason, no iPads, computers, or extremely expensive items) and returned. So, if Cram The Cruiser donates $5,000 worth of supplies to STB, then STB will donate around $10,000 worth of supplies back to Edmonson County schools at the completetion of the event. 

He said that Cram The Cruiser began about 8 years ago when he had the opportunity to meet up with the Edmonson County Youth Service Center after he heard they wanted to be apart of a school supply event. "They're amazing people with great energy that's contagious," Rose said. "We knew they were teaming up with KSP and suggested that we'd promote an event in Edmonson County along with STB and if they'd donate everything they received, then we'd give that amount back, plus a ton more." 

STB volunteers stand with Lynette Sailing, Tony Rose, and Lisa Whobery at a past Cram The Cruiser event. (courtesy of STB)

Rose said the event was a huge success and that it allowed STB to help out one of their favorite counties and school systems while adding to the popularity of STB, which causes more people in the region to donate.

"Each year we're tweaking things here and there, and Cram The Cruiser continues to grow, so now you've got Edmonson County setting the standard for the county-match donation setup."

The event will begin at approximately 7:30/8AM at the Minit Mart in Brownsville and last until around 10AM, when it will move to the Family Dollar just down the street and remain set up there until around 3 or 4PM in the afternoon. Kentucky State Police will be on site with one of their police cruisers with hopes that it's running over with school supplies, plus some, at the end of the day.

"I've always had a strong place in my heart for Brownsville and Edmonson County," Rose said. "I've felt like I've been an adopted citizen of that area for a long time."