Millsboro Clothing Drive: ‘Stuff the Bus’ Helps Sussex County Students

MILLSBORO, Del. — A school bus brimming with latest clothing items was the centerpiece of a community effort Saturday, as residents of Sussex County donated shirts, shoes, and other apparel to support students in require. The “Stuff the Bus Challenge,” organized by the nonprofit Clothing Our Kids in partnership with the American Legion and the Jolly Trolley, aimed to provide essential clothing to local students who may lack the resources to afford them.

Donations were collected throughout the day at the American Legion post in Millsboro, filling the Jolly Trolley bus with tops, shorts, underwear, and pants. Karen Kramer, representing Simply Southern, contributed several boxes of donations, emphasizing the importance of supporting children. “It’s extremely important,” Kramer said. “And kids, especially because, you know, they have to rely on, you know, what their parents have to give. And so it’s always good to have these causes that help children.”

Clothing Our Kids, founded in 2012, has provided clothing to over 40,000 children across Sussex County, according to the organization. The initiative addresses a critical need, as a lack of appropriate clothing can negatively impact a student’s self-esteem, attendance, and ability to learn, and can even lead to bullying, according to Clothing Our Kids’ mission statement.

The event also drew significant financial contributions. Roberta Bass of Dagsboro donated funds to help purchase additional clothing items. “I came today because it’s very important,” Bass said, “and to deliver the funds that will buy the children’s clothing, and help them to have maybe a better appearance when they go to school, because that’s important to children and to help their families.”

Pam Fleuette, with Clothing Our Kids, explained the organization’s collaborative approach with local schools. “Some children are homeless in this county,” Fleuette said. “Some children are going to school in the same clothing every day. So with the help of the nurses and guidance counselors at the schools, we’re able to identify and help these children.” This discreet identification process ensures that students receive assistance without stigma.

Since 2022, Clothing Our Kids has donated nearly 100,000 items to students in need, and in the 2025/2026 school year alone, the organization distributed items to 3,713 children. The organization’s annual golf tournament serves as its largest fundraiser. Volunteers, like Jaqui Sheridan, a driver for Clothing Our Kids, highlighted the positive impact of the organization’s work. “As a COK Volunteer driver, I personally see the appreciation by school staff when I deliver those needed boxes of clothing,” Sheridan said in a statement released in March 2025.

The success of the “Stuff the Bus Challenge” – raising over $3,000 and collecting hundreds of clothing items – demonstrates a strong community commitment to supporting local students. Organizers say the donated items will be sorted and distributed to schools throughout Sussex County, providing students with the clothing they need to succeed in the classroom.