Latest news with #StuffTheBus
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
United Way rallying businesses to become drop-off locations for school supply drive
LAFAYETTE, La. () — Summer has started, but it's never too late to start thinking about next school year. Those at United Way of Acadiana are kicking off their 'Stuff the Bus' school supply drive. This drive makes sure families in need are given what they need to make the next school year a success. 'Families have a hard time making ends meet and buying school supplies can be an extra financial burden for them,' says Holly Cope-Lynn, Market and Communications Director for United Way of Acadiana. United Way of Acadiana collects these school supplies to hopefully provide some economic relief for both students and teachers in the area. 'Half of every household lives in economic hardship, so that's half of our students, half of our teachers,' says Cope-Lynn. Teachers are increasingly dipping into their own pockets to set their classrooms up for success. 'Teachers spends on average $800 a year in their own funds to buy these supplies for their classrooms,' adds Cope-Lynn. This school supply drive is a huge undertaking and United Way is reliant on both community help and volunteers. 'It takes hundreds of volunteer hours, it takes hundreds of volunteers,' says Cope-Lynn. 'There are multiple phases, everything from businesses signing up to be collection sites to people actually bringing in their items to donate.' Some of the items collected include paper, pens, pencils, crayons, folders, Kleenex, and hand-sanitizer. At this time, United Way of Acadiana is attempting to rally businesses to become drop-off locations for these items. They need businesses in Lafayette parish, but especially other parishes in their five-parish service zone, including Acadiana, Iberia, St. Martin, and Vermilion. 'We get the school supplies to those school districts, and we need businesses in those parishes to collect school supplies,' adds Cope-Lynn. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Eventually, at the end of the summer, when all these items are collected, they plan to fill up their entire warehouse. According to Cope-Lynn, this is not an impossible goal, especially with the success the drive saw last year. 'Last year, we collected more than $100,000 in value in school supplies,' says Cope-Lynn. 'That went to 500 teachers in our five parish areas and that helped 30,000 students and that is serious impact,' adds Cope-Lynn. The 'Stuff the Bus' school supply drive runs from June 17th through July 16th. If you are a business owner and you'd like to sign up your business to be a drop off location, you can visit to do so. United Way of Acadiana also has purchase supplies on an Amazon wishlist that can be shipped directly to their warehouse. Any additional information can be found at United Way rallying businesses to become drop-off locations for school supply drive Weather Service rehiring at offices left 'critically understaffed' by layoffs Fan reportedly struck by falling concrete at Dodger Stadium Fatal tractor crash prompts farm road safety push Senators itching for Trump green light to move on Russia sanctions Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jasper High School students ‘stuff the bus' on High School Radio Day
JASPER, Ind. (WEHT) – Students at Jasper High School are celebrating National High School Radio Day while helping those in need. The annual celebration collects donations for Community CHEW, a Dubois County non-profit that helps feed families. Evan Elrod runs the school's radio station, 91.7 The Curve, giving students the chance to broadcast live for Stuff The Bus. 'One of the things that we don't do a lot of that other radio stations do is go live on location,' says Elrod. 'This gives the kids an opportunity to get out of the studio and have that live pressure moment of, 'Okay, what am I supposed to say now?'' 'It kind of has helped me find exactly what I want to do and exactly how I can use that in real world experiences,' says Jasper senior Ava Bower. Grant Seibert, a junior, says the event helps personally and professionally. 'It just makes me feel good that I'm able to give back for all the great things that the community has provided for me,' says Seibert. Honor Flight mail sorting begins in Evansville 'I was not expecting this many people,' adds Bower. 'It's just really nice to see how many people we impact with The Curve, because you're behind the radio station, you are talking to yourself, basically,' she says, 'so it's really nice to know that we are heard.' For some students, it's a chance to see what a future in broadcasting looks like with a live report from a special event. For others, like senior Caelyn Lenardo, it's a cause that hits close to home. 'Personally, for me, I have been on the other side of this. I have been a part of Community CHEW when I was younger,' explains Lenardo. 'I used to go to their Summer program and they would totally help a lot. They would feed me every single day when my parents were at work and I was 12 years old and didn't know how to cook anything other than an egg!' Lenardo goes on to say, 'I love that I'm part of something that helps give back to someone that I have been at one point.' Many students say the turnout for Stuff The Bus exceeded their expectations. Elrod says the community support was never in question. 'I will never underestimate the power of a strong community, and that's where we're at here,' says Elrod. 'We have a really strong community that isn't afraid to give back.' Jasper High School students 'stuff the bus' on High School Radio Day Holy Name making push for pedestrian bridge in Henderson Rain not slowing down Tri-Fest crowds United Way volunteers helping Henderson County flood cleanup Funds approved for Audubon Conference Center Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
26-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
The Big Biscuit Celebrates Oklahoma Expansion With New Restaurant Opening
The brand's largest franchisee opens its seventh location OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, UNITED STATES, March 26, 2025 / / -- Oklahoma City, grab your forks! The Big Biscuit®, a modern All-American breakfast and lunch franchise concept known for its classic comfort food served with genuine hometown hospitality, is officially open at 6406 N. May Ave. in Country Club Corner. The highly anticipated opening marks Steve Zahn's seventh Big Biscuit restaurant since 2020. Zahn is the largest franchisee of The Big Biscuit and brings more than 30 years of multi-unit restaurant operator experience to the table. Zahn plans to open four more Big Biscuit restaurants in the Oklahoma market in the coming years. As an Oklahoma resident, Zahn is committed to supporting the local communities he serves. In 2023, Zahn launched the brand's first Stuff The Bus initiative, a donation drive that collects and distributes new school supplies to public schools for students in need, setting them up for a successful school year. Due to the positive impact, Stuff The Bus became a brand-wide effort in 2024, leading to hundreds of school supplies donated to over 20 school districts. Beyond Stuff The Bus, Zahn's commitment to community support extends to partnerships with public schools throughout Oklahoma. He also collected children's pajamas during the 2024 holiday season through the brand-wide initiative, Pajama Jam. Through these community-centric efforts, Zahn continues to make a lasting impact on the communities he serves, one biscuit at a time. 'We are very fortunate to have Steve as a part of The Big Biscuit brand. His passion for growth and commitment to our mission ensures that more communities can experience our quality comfort foods and genuine hometown hospitality. Steve and his team of operators exemplify what The Big Biscuit looks for in a franchisee,' said Chad Offerdahl, President and Co-CEO for The Big Biscuit®. Guests can enjoy the full Big Biscuit menu including the restaurant's award-winning Biscuits and Gravy, Country Fried Steak & Eggs, plate-sized buttermilk pancakes, French toasts, and the Guest-favorite, the Yard Bird–hand-breaded fried chicken sandwiched between a biscuit and topped with a heaping ladle of housemade sausage gravy. Lunch includes the infamous Brunch Burger stacked high with hash browns, over-easy egg, chopped bacon, and served on a toasted brioche bun, the 'Almost Famous'–24-hour brined and hand-breaded fried chicken selections, and more. 'Oklahoma has embraced The Big Biscuit with open arms, and we're proud to provide hometown hospitality to the community daily. It's not just about the food—it's about bringing people together and making a positive impact. Our growth has been exciting, thanks to the Guests who have welcomed us to their neighborhoods as a business and friends. We're honored to have received awards like Best Breakfast in TulsaWorld, TulsaPeople A-List, and TulsaKids Family Favorites, and are looking forward to making a big impact in the Oklahoma City community,' said Steve Zahn, franchisee of The Big Biscuit. 'Steve's passion for The Big Biscuit and his dedication to the community and our Guests aligns perfectly with what we seek in franchisees,' said Chad Offerdahl, President & Co-CEO for The Big Biscuit. 'We are committed to sustainable growth with the right franchisees, and Steve has been an exceptional example.' The opening of 64th and May marks The Big Biscuits' 29th location across four states. To learn more about The Big Biscuit, visit Want to franchise with The Big Biscuit? Explore franchising opportunities at About The Big Biscuit® The Big Biscuit is a breakfast and lunch concept serving impossibly generous portions of classic American comfort foods and genuine hometown hospitality. Founded in 2000, The Big Biscuit is celebrating 25 years of BIG success with 29 locations across Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Opening its first franchise location in 2020, the brand boasts a strategic growth plan committed to a sustainable and holistic approach. The Big Biscuit has received notice including being named by Franchise Times as a 'Top Breakout Brand,' winning 'Best Breakfast' in dozens of regional publications, and being shortlisted in the Global Franchise Awards. The Big Biscuit is committed to adding value to their guests and communities one biscuit at a time. The brand works to engage the communities it serves through various initiatives that fit its philanthropic pillars of food insecurity, community, and public education. For Guests, The Big Biscuit offers seasonal limited-time offerings, regularly refreshes core menus, and builds loyalty by activating Guests across generations in playful ways through school partnerships, generous giveaways, and leveraging hyper-local influential partnerships. Follow The Big Biscuit on social media: Facebook @BigBiscuitRestaurant, Instagram @ and TikTok @eatbigbiscuit. For more information, visit Ink Link Marketing
