ADDISON COUNTY — The United Way of Addison County is once again offering a “Stuff the Bus” program to Addison County students in grades K-12. Backpacks filled with school supplies (including hand sanitizer and a face mask) are now available at six locations in Addison County for any student in need.

The United Way of Addison County distributed 382 backpacks last year, but foresaw a greater demand for student backpacks this year, UWAC Executive Director Helena Van Vorst said.

“Anticipating higher need this year, we stuffed a record 600 backpacks,” Van Vorst said.

After several long months of masks and distancing, students will be able to return to the buildings with some sense of normalcy.

Backpacks stuffed with age- appropriate school supplies for elementary, middle, and high school students are available at no cost at the following locations:

Vergennes Community Food Shelf, Ambrose Catholic Church in Bristol, and in Middlebury: HOPE (Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects), CVOEO (Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity), Vermont Federal Credit Union and Junebug in the Marble Works.

For exact locations and pickup times, head online to unitedwayaddisoncounty.org/stuff-the-bus

“There is still plenty of time to support the program by donating” online at tinyurl. com/HelpStuffBus, Van Voorst said.

The effort was spearheaded by the United Way’s Youth Prevention Coordinator, Olivia Brooks, a senior at Vergennes Union High School.