Stuffing the buses with school supplies

Burger King, Nets and United Way collaboration helps children in need

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Through Aug. 20, Burger Kings across Long Island, including the one on Rockaway Turnpike in Lawrence, are serving as the collection points for a Stuff-A-Bus campaign spearheaded by the United Way of Long Island that also involves the Long Island Nets.

School supplies such as backpacks, binders, crayons, erasers, glue sticks, lunch boxes, notebooks, pencils, pens, and scissors will be distributed to families in need. The campaign culminates with what officials are calling a “sort-a-thon” at NYCB Live, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 23.

“Children represent the future of Long Island, so it is critical that we give them the support they need to be successful in their early years of education,” Theresa Regnante, president and CEO of United Way of Long Island, said in a news release. “Working with the Long Island Nets allows us to expand our Stuff-A-Bus program even further, reaching more young students and giving them the tools they need to thrive.”

Through the past eight years, the United Way’s Stuff-A-Bus program has provided “hundreds of thousands” of school supplies to students. The program also partners with East End Bus Lines, Educational Bus Transportation, Huntington Coach Corporation and Suffolk Transportation Service Inc. for the buses that are “stuffed.”

“The Long Island Nets are honored to partner with United Way of Long Island to uplift our youth and give back to the region we’re proud to be a part of,” Alton Byrd, vice president of the Long Island Nets, said in the same release. “The expansion of Stuff-A-Bus to Nassau County is an example of how we can all play a role in growing our community.”

The United Way of Long Island is part of a global network that stretches across 41 countries and territories, including more than 1,200 local organizations in the U.S.

A National Basketball League G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets, the Long Island Nets played home games in their inaugural season — 2016-‘17 — at Barclays Center and practiced at HSS Training Center in Brooklyn. NYCB Live will be their permanent home beginning this season.

To contribute to the Stuff-A-Bus program, go to http://bit.ly/2vssidT.