When members of the Kingdom of the Sun (Fla.) Chapter learned in 2001 of poverty among Marion County schoolchildren that prevented many from purchasing needed school supplies, they quickly took action. Then-chapter President Col. Lamar Hunt, USA (Ret), spearheaded with Suzanne McGuire, of the Marion County School System, the “Stuff the Bus” program to raise funds to purchase and donate the needed items. 

“It has always been a veterans’ initiative,” said Col. Craig Ham, USA (Ret), chapter 1st vice president, who assumed leadership of the project in 2016. Today, the name Stuff the Bus is registered to the Marion County Veterans Council by the State of Florida.

Kingdom of the Sun Chapter members and other veterans participate in fundraising and stuffing backpacks for schoolchildren.