The Seattle Seahawks announced this week an expanded campaign to collect school supplies and cash donations for Communities In Schools of Seattle (CISS) throughout the month of August.

The campaign will culminate on Aug. 25 during the Stuff The Bus gate drive scheduled for the team’s second preseason game versus the Dallas Cowboys.

Fans are encouraged to drop-off school supplies at one of the team’s four retail locations at CenturyLink Field, downtown Seattle, Renton Landing or Alderwood Mall.  Fans will also be able to make an in-store cash donation at check-out or online at this link.

Over the past 10 years, school supply costs have risen 88 percent for elementary school students, 81 percent for middle school students and 68 percent for high school students. This puts greater pressure than ever on low-income students and families. Donations will support Seattle schools with high percentages of low income students.

“The annual Stuff The Bus campaign provides essential tools for students to start the school year on the right foot,” Jennifer Haberman, coordinator for Stuff The Bus said in a press release. “We see the relief on parents’ faces when they know their kids will have the school supplies they need.  It makes a real difference in the life of another person.”

The most needed school supplies are:

• Backpacks;

• Markers;

• Zipper binders;

• Notebook dividers;

• Graphing calculators;

• Notebook paper;

• Colored pencils;

• Pencil sharpeners;

• Composition notebooks;

• Pencils;

• Dry erase markers;

• Erasers;

• Student planners;

• Full-size scissors;

• Sticky notes;

• Scotch tape;

• Kleenex; and

• Glue.

Learn more at www.seattle.ciswa.org.