United Way Saskatoon is hoping to meet the increasing needs of the city’s most vulnerable people with its Stuff The Bus event, a kickoff to its annual fundraising campaign.

United Way Saskatoon CEO Sheri Benson says the campaign kicks off on September 12th in Civic Square beside City Hall. There will be a bus on site for people to stuff with a list of items that are most wanted by the agencies and the clients they serve. Benson says the kickoff celebration will include a $5 barbeque, a hypnotist show from Corrie J, and “a really neat thing this year is we are having an agency fair. So, it’s a chance for folks to see first-hand the agencies that they’re funding. They will get to talk to them, find out what they’re doing, and increase their awareness on some of the great services that are happening.”

Benson invites the public to bring new socks, baby formula, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, school supplies and winter clothes, which will be delivered to several support organizations at the end of the month. “We’ll have the YWCA shelter. They’re the largest shelter in the province for women and children needing a place to stay. EGADZ, who has a great youth program for kids in our community that are at risk. The Saskatoon Family Centre; providing parents and caregivers with lots of support in those early years of being a parent.”

Benson says the fundraising goal for their major annual fundraiser is $3.5 million. “Believe it or not, every year we think ‘Oh my gosh, we started at zero, how are we going to get there?’ But everybody does their part.” For those with cash donations, she says they can be made at unitedwaysaskatoon.ca.