Backpacks, pencils, and a bright yellow school bus are taking center stage this May, all in the name of showing up for kids who need it most. Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children is bringing back its “Fill the Bus” drive, and it’s less about supplies and more about support that shows up when it matters.
Happening May 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. at ACFC’s Scottsdale facility, located at 7010 E. Cochise Rd., the community-driven donation drop-off event invites locals to swing by with school essentials that will go directly to families navigating pediatric cancer. Think notebooks, crayons, glue sticks, rulers, scissors, backpacks, and even lunch boxes, binders, and other classroom staples that make a real difference.
At the heart of it is a simple idea. When kids are facing something as big as cancer, the small things shouldn’t feel overwhelming. Having the right supplies, ready to go, can mean walking into the classroom with confidence instead of concern.
The ACFC “bus” will be on-site, making the experience equal parts easy and meaningful. Pull up, drop off, and know it’s going exactly where it’s needed. Every item collected will be distributed directly to ACFC families, reinforcing the organization’s role as a centralized hub of support offering financial, emotional, and social resources to those who need it most.
Timing matters here. Many of the children supported by ACFC attend year-round school and head back as early as July, making early donations especially impactful.
More than just a school supply drive, “Fill the Bus” is a moment for the community to show up in a tangible way. Every backpack, every pack of pencils, every small contribution adds up to something bigger, reminding these students they are supported at every step.
Insider Takeaways
- “Fill the Bus” takes place May 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. at 7010 E. Cochise Rd. in Scottsdale. Donation drop-offs go directly to families navigating pediatric cancer.
- Requested items include backpacks, notebooks, pencils, crayons, binders, and lunch boxes.
- Many students return to school as early as July, making early donations especially impactful.
- The on-site school bus makes drop-offs easy, fast, and community-driven.
- ACFC provides financial, emotional, and social support to families across the Valley.
To learn more, visit azcancerfoundation.org.
