Investing in Back-to-School Readiness at All Levels
The true highlight of the back-to-school season at Communities In Schools® (CIS®) of Cape Fear is their annual Stuff the Bus event, the region’s oldest and largest school supply drive. In its 25th year, the event has evolved into a community engagement opportunity, inviting local businesses, corporations, civic organizations, and churches to collect essential back-to-school items for students in public schools across New Hanover and Pender counties.
Every August, Cape Fear neighbors can stop by a school bus and drop off school supplies for the upcoming year. It's a special moment during the summer that invites community members to ensure every student has what they need to enjoy a successful year in school.
Novant Health team members came together to collect school supplies for local students, helping ensure that every child starts the school year with the tools they need to succeed. By partnering with Communities In Schools of the Cape Fear for their annual Stuff the Bus program, we supported an organization dedicated to removing barriers to education and empowering students to reach their full potential. This effort reflects our commitment to caring for our community both inside and outside the hospital walls, fostering brighter futures through compassion, collaboration, and service.
-Victoria Bellamy, Community Engagement Manager, Novant Health Coastal Region
For some families with multiple children, providing school supplies can be overwhelming or not financially possible. CIS of Cape Fear is determined to provide every student with the materials they need to start the school year strong.
The popular back-to-school items include quality backpacks, which are the most needed and hardest to come by because of price. Hygiene items like body wipes and deodorant are in high demand, as well as the tried and true back to school items like composition notebooks, paper, pencils and pocket folders.
It's one less barrier to education. Stuff the Bus provides the security that no child has to go without. That their needs are met and they can be successful.
-Nicole Esposito, Student Support Specialist, CIS Cape Fear
The CIS of Cape Fear team is also getting their site coordinators and school administrators ready to go back to school. The affiliate is in its third year of the Scaling for Success cohort. Launched in the summer of 2023, the $165 million investment provided by the Ballmer Group aims to expand integrated student supports across the CIS Network. With support from the Ballmer investment, CIS of Cape Fear has expanded the CIS model to an additional two school sites and will be serving 34 schools this school year.
As the new school year begins, CIS of Cape Fear is focused on ensuring that both new and veteran site coordinators are equipped to support students effectively. This back-to-school season, they are prioritizing staff training and professional development—including first aid and mental health support—to better meet student needs.
As part of the Scaling for Success initiative, CIS hosted a principal breakfast in early August, bringing together district leaders, school administrators, and CIS staff. This event helped build stronger relationships with new and existing school partners, reinforcing the value of CIS’s integrated student supports model.
When students feel prepared for school, they are ready to show up and do their best. By fostering connection, setting clear expectations, and investing in preparation at every level, CIS of Cape Fear is setting the stage for a successful school year—where students and the adults who support them are ready to thrive.
