Community Helping Community: Stuff The Bus Event Held At Mohawk Vision

On Friday, The third annual Stuff the Bus Event was held at Mohawk Vision. This year’s event featured Bellybuttons the Clown, who was painting faces, a dunking tank, two bouncy houses, games, and food. The food venders donated a portion of their proceeds as well. The purpose of the event was to raise funds to get backpacks and school supplies for children in the community. Over the last 4 weeks there has been a signup sheet in the community for children who would like to participate in the project. This event marked the end of the drive with the deadline on Saturday at 1 pm.

The funds raised through donations will be collected and used to purchase school supplies, which will then be distributed to children in need throughout the community. Dr. Hillary Pyke, of Mohawk Vision, started the event. When asked why, Pyke replied, “there’s a lot of kids whose parents don’t have the money to supply the kids, and a lot of the schools aren’t supplying the school supplies anymore.” “It’s so they don’t have to worry about those things, because they shouldn’t have to worry about those things,” Pyke added. The event is growing, both in popularity and support. There is still a need for a lot more donations than what they have had. Donations of school supplies, and money, can be brought to Mohawk Vision, the pharmacy in St. Regis, Head start, and at the tribal building.

Leona Barnes had a game called Toss Out The Drugs where kids had to throw out the drugs into a toilet, and they would win candy for doing it. Bellybuttons the Clown was on hand painting faces, and making “Boyfriend Boppers” which looked like it might have been a hammer, out of balloons. Alcohol Prevention was on hand with their own game as well, where kids had to knock over a bunch of drug labeled cans.

This was a wonderful event and a great example of the community helping the community. Taking the stress off parents and children is about as noble a reason to do this as I can think of.