CHAMPAIGN — It's time once again to stuff the bus, but leave the pencils and gluesticks at home this year.

The second annual "Stuff the Bus!" drive to collect supplies for Champaign County social service agencies will begin next week, culminating in the actual stuffing of the bus(es) on Aug. 31-Sept. 1.

The idea is to help clients of the United Ways cash-strapped partner agencies, including the Center for Women in Transition, the Crisis Nursery of Champaign County and the Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club. Beginning Monday, donors can choose from a list of 20 items and take them to collection bins at more than a dozen participating businesses. Buses will pick up those items on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, with public drop-off events those two days at WDWS/WHMS radio, Christie Clinic in downtown Champaign, Jupiter's at the Crossing or WCIA television.

That event will serve as the official start of the United Ways fall fundraising campaign. The goal this year is $3.3 million, the same as last year, according to co-chair Lynne Barnes, Carle's vice president of clinical operations.

The 2010 Stuff the Bus drive brought in 100,000 items, double what the United Way was hoping for, officials said.

"It was incredible how much people gave," said Sue Grey, United Way vice president for community impact.

The donations included a healthy stash of school supplies, but given that the drive will take place after the start of school the United Way opted to focus on personal care items and office supplies this time, Grey said. Copy paper, in particular, is a pricey item for nonprofits.

The United Way has also conducted a separate "School Tools" drive this summer with WCIA and Walgreen's, providing enough school supplies to fill 900 backpacks given away last weekend at Salt and Light Ministries, she said.

The Carle organization is stepping in to provide the diapers for this year's Stuff the Bus drive. Carle and Health Alliance have challenged their 5,800 employees to collect up to 75,000 diapers and will match whatever total the workers bring in, up to $5,000 worth, Barnes said.

Carle will sponsor 15 drop-off locations, including the South Clinic in Urbana and the two clinics on Windsor Road in Champaign and Urbana, where the public can also donate diapers.

"It's kind of our way of kicking everything off and getting people thinking about the needs in the community," Barnes said. "We thought if we could sell one item that we could get our employees pumped up about, it would probably be a bunch of diapers."

Carle knows diapers. In 2010, Carle bought approximately 212,330 diapers for the 2,449 babies born there and other children receiving treatment at the hospital or doctors' offices. And its bulk-purchasing power allows it to buy more for its $5,000, she said.

Barnes is not daunted by the $3.3 million campaign goal, despite the shaky economic news of late. Some of last year's gifts were one-time donations, which could make the job even tougher this year.

"We were nervous to go for $3.3 million again," she said, "but the needs are even greater. We hit that last year, and we know we can do it again."

After the avalanche of Stuff the Bus donations last year, buses will be unloaded more often this year to give staff time to sort the donations and get the warehouse ready for the agencies that will get to "shop" for free on the afternoon of Sept. 1.

Bins will again be set up in Rantoul and Mahomet and donations will go to nonprofit agencies in those communities, including the Mahomet Area Youth Club and the Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County, Grey said.

FreeStar Bank's locations in Champaign, Urbana, Campustown and Mahomet are among the collection points, said Kelly Nelson, office manager at the Philo Road branch and chair of the United Way's Emerging Community Leaders Board. FreeStar has been involved with United way since it entered the Champaign market in 2006, and "it's just another way to stay involved," she said. "They do a lot of good."

Martin Hood Friese and Associates, which collected more than 1,000 items last year, plans to resume its rivalry with the Meyer Capel law firm, said audit partner Denise Martin, who won a bottle of champagne for prevailing in last year's contest.

"The event itself is so great because it reaches the entire community," she said. "You can give very little and still help. You feel like you're part of it."

Stuff the Bus wish list

(new unopened items only)

* Baby formula

* Personal care: shampoo, conditioner, soap, body wash, hand sanitizer, feminine hygiene products, antiperspirant/deoderant, tissues, toothpaste/toothbrushes, dental floss, Depends. * Household: Laundry detergent, toilet paper, paper towels, Clorox wipes, garbage bags, plastic baggies (quart).

* Office supplies: Copy paper, envelopes-manila (for 8 x 11 materials), envelopes #10, file folders 1/3 cut.

You can drop off items at collection bins throughout the community starting Monday, or during the drive-through drop-off locations on Aug. 31-Sept. 1:

Aug. 31

* 7 to 9 a.m.

WDWS-WHMS-WUIL Morning Show

2301 S. Neil St., Champaign, IL

* Noon to 2 p.m.-Christie Clinic, 101 W. University Ave., Downtown Champaign

* 5 to 7 p.m. Jupiters at the Crossing, 2511 Village Green Place, C

*Times are approximate

Sept. 1

* 6 to 9 a.m. The Morning Show WCIA

For more information: http://www.uwayhelps.org