The crew at VEA works to fill the bucket of the truck with school supplies. This year, 19 buckets were filled, four more than last year. Advertisement

Area shoppers on Saturday filled the bucket truck with school supplies 19 times for the Valley Electric Association's second annual Fill the Bucket Truck event, surpassing last year's tally by four.

The bucket drop took place outside Wal-Mart between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The original goal for this year was 17-20 buckets, said the co-op's community and governmental relations manager, Staci Behnke.

The bucket filled by shoppers is usually used "to hoist VEA line crew in the air to repair or maintain overhead lines," Behnke added.

In addition to supplies, shoppers donated over $400 in cash, Behnke said.

The money was then spent by VEA employees to purchase additional supplies. VEA employees donated their time to work the event.

Also participating in the bucket drop were employees of Kaye's Allstate Insurance.

Behnke said after the event, workers would gather and organize the supplies at the VEA office.

This week, boxes of supplies will be dropped off at the Nye County School District office. There, supplies will be divvied up and distributed among area schools, Behnke explained.

Supplies will be collected at Kaye's Allstate, 150 S. Highway 160, through Aug. 31, she added.

The bucket drop coincided with the Children's Health Fair, also in its second year.

Laura Boggs, Nye Communities Coalition coordinator, helped organize the fair, much of which took place inside the store.

Vendors provided a variety of services to children, including sports physicals and vaccinations.

All offerings were free to the children and their parents, Boggs said.

She said the fair "sprouted from a small idea" into a multi-vendor affair with activities both inside and outside the store.

Pahrump Valley Fire Rescue workers gave fire truck demonstrations outside. Safety demonstrations were given by the Nye County Sheriff's Office, event organizers said.

Boggs said shoppers, parents and vendors already have expressed interest in next year's fair.

Other fair sponsors included Familiy to Family Connection, the Nye County School District, Wal-Mart, Nevada Covering Kids and Families, Desert View Regional Medical Center and the Pahrump Valley Rotary Club.