Why do we call it “We Missed the Bus”?

Rosemary Cleaves
Aug 9, 2025
3 min read

At this time of year every year throughout the country there are many organizations collecting and distributing school supplies for students in need. South SLO County is right in the thick of this with collections sponsored by the United Way Stuff the Bus drive and the annual Gospel Lighthouse Church back to school bash. The Arroyo Grande Hospital Employees stuff backpacks with school supplies. The Lucia Mar Unified School District’s Families in Transition program also gathers school supplies for the children in that program who are not permanently housed.

The thing all these collections have in common is that they are for students in need. Unfortunately, school teachers “Miss the Bus” in these giveaways. There are few organizations reaching out to teachers who often spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars of their hard earned salaries on supplies for the classroom. Not only do they prepare their classrooms and stock up on teaching supplies, but often they keep supplies of necessary student supplies for children who also “Missed the Bus” school supplies giveaways.

We hope you don’t “Miss the Bus” but “Get on the Bus” with us. Our drive ends this week on Thursday August 14^th! Below are the details of what’s needed and where you can drop things off.

South SLO County Womenade’s 6th Annual School Supplies Drive for Lucia Mar Teachers

July 14 to August 14, 2025

2025 School Supplies Drive – We Missed the Bus

We Love Educators – Lisa Arakaki project leader

We are in the home stretch of this collection. We want to thank all donors for supporting our Lucia Mar teachers through your generous donations! Many thanks to the volunteers who have been the drop off locations, and those who will be picking up donations, sorting and delivering the school supplies.

This year for the first time we'll reserve half of the donations for delivery after winter break (January 2026) to sustain teachers for the rest of the school year. Principals provided feedback that schools receive school supplies at the start of the school year but consumables run out, and no one provides school supply donations for the second half of the school year (January-June)

We'll be donating to the same high-need schools as last year, as identified by Lucia Mar (Wendy Bruse)

5 schools in Nipomo:

Dana Elementary
Lange Elementary
Nipomo Elementary
Mesa Middle
Nipomo High

6 schools in 5 Cities:

Fairgrove Elementary
Grover Beach Elementary
Grover Heights Elementary
Oceano Elementary
Judkins Middle
Oceano Adult Transition Program

Potluck at Toucan Terrace

We give many thanks to Karen Kolba for hosting our Potluck on Friday August 8^th. It was a successful, warm, informative and delicious gathering! A number of attendees bowed out at the last minute due to fears associated with needing to be prepared to evacuate due to the Gifford Fire. We thought about them and their safety as we enjoyed the evening. Four of our partner agencies shared information about their organizations during the meet and greet time. We even had a couple of tiny kittens in an incubator that needed to be fed every 2 hours. They were being cared for by Libby Cabral, the CARE4Paws representative, who attended and so she had to bring them with her.

Next Potluck

South SLO County Womenade is hosting the next potluck on October 9^th at 6PM at the 950 Room in Cypress Ridge.

Let’s blow the top off and see if we can beat our record of 54 attendees. This will mean you need to attend, spread the word, and physically invite someone to come with you. We’re looking forward to a fabulous turnout and lots of fun, great food, new friends and good friends!