This time of year there is a flurry of activity around the halls of Camas High School for the annual Stuff the Bus competition and activities that surround it. This year’s competition began November 1st and ends December 1st, and while it may seem frivolous to donate in small increments, every cent and every can counts.

One major benefactor for Stuff the Bus is the series of Miracle Minutes. They are designed for students and teachers to donate money for Stuff the Bus. Even though it may seem like a chore, Miracle Minutes brought in a total amount of $2,415.67. 

Here are some fun facts about how those donations break down:

• If every student put in a dollar during Miracle Minute, $2219 would be raised.
• If every student put in 50 cents during Miracle Minute, $1,109.5 would be raised.
• If every student put in 25 cents during Miracle Minute, $554.75 would be raised.
• If every student put in only a penny during Miracle Minute, $221.9 would be raised.

This year, the highest earning Miracle Minute came on the final day, when students and staff raised $1,219.69.

Senior Ella Neuman believes “not as many students participate” in the Miracle Minute, but she wants to keep it going because it “does not hurt anything.” 

In additional to Miracle Minutes, students are asked to bring in non-perishable food items to their homeroom. Specific food cans are worth a certain amount of points to create a competition between the classes. The top five classes with the most points receive a pizza party. Teachers Dave Johnson, Cory Marshall, Michelle Allen, Jacob Howell, Craig Hardin had the top five classes at last check; the final numbers are still being tallied.

“The Competition is good because I think kids get excited,” says Dr. Sejkora, principal of CHS, but she wants to focus on “nurturing a generous spirit.” Stuff the Bus reveals the people in Camas’ generosity. Sejkora is “very proud that during the holidays the community is giving.”