Local Communities Encouraged to Donate School Supplies to Help Students in Need
Allendale, NJ (PRUnderground) July 23rd, 2026
Doherty Enterprises, Inc., a franchisee for Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar in New York City, Long Island, NY, and New Jersey, is announcing the return of its annual Stuff the Bus school supply drive to benefit local students and classrooms ahead of the new school year.
Participating Doherty-owned Applebee’s locations will once again welcome the community to “stuff the bus” placing a bright yellow school bus in their parking lots as a collection point for school supply donations. Guests can contribute new school supplies or make monetary donations to benefit local students and education partners.
In addition to collecting much needed classroom supplies, select Doherty-owned Applebee’s restaurants will also host fundraisers, such as flapjack breakfasts and bake sales. To learn more about additional fundraisers for Stuff the Bus, guests should check with their local Applebee’s restaurants.
All collected items will be loaded directly onto the bus and delivered to nearby schools or community organizations helping students start the school year off right with the supplies they need to succeed.
“Supporting the communities we serve is at the heart of everything we do,” said Timothy Doherty, President of Doherty Enterprises. “Each year, our Stuff the Bus campaign brings neighbors, guests and local organizations together at their local Applebee’s to help students start the school year with the supplies they need. Seeing our communities rally around this effort and make a meaningful difference for local families is incredible.”
Guests and community members are encouraged to drop off donations during their next Applebee’s visit and enjoy a great meal while supporting an inspiring community cause.
The campaign will take place at select Doherty-owned Applebee’s locations, including:
| LOCATION | Donation Period | Bus at Restaurant | School / Org |
| Lindenhurst, NY | Through August 8 | August 8 | Fiercely Leading Youth, Inc |
| Linden, NJ | Through August 27 | August 27 | Linden Youth |
| North Bergen, NJ | Through August 15 | August 15 | Robert Fulton # 2 School |
| Howell, NJ | Through August 19 | August 31 | Howell Twp Public Schools |
| Hackettstown, NJ | Through August 1 | Indoor bus display | Oxford Central School |
| Mount Olive, NJ | Through August 19 | August 15 – 16 | Byram Township School District |
| Bridgewater, NJ | Through August 28 | August 28 | Adamsville Elementary School |
| Staten Island (New Dorp), NY | Through September 20 | Indoor bus display | Kids Against Cancer |
About Applebee’s®
As one of the world’s largest casual dining brands, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar serves as America’s kitchen table, offering guests a lively dining experience that combines simple, craveable American fare with classic drinks and local drafts. Applebee’s makes it easy for family and friends to connect with one another, whether it’s in a dining room or in the comfort of a living room, Eatin’ Good in the Neighborhood
is a familiar and affordable escape from the everyday. Applebee’s restaurants are owned and operated by entrepreneurs dedicated to more than serving great food, but also building up the communities that we call home. From raising money for local charities to hosting community fundraisers, Applebee’s is always Doin’ Good in the Neighborhood®. Applebee’s and its franchise operations together consisted of 1,498 Applebee’s restaurants globally as of March 29, 2026. This number does not include 71 company-owned Applebee’s restaurants. Applebee’s is franchised by subsidiaries of Dine Brands Global Inc. [NYSE: DIN], which is one of the world’s largest full-service restaurant companies.
About Doherty Enterprises, Inc.
Established in 1985, Doherty Enterprises owns and operates 158 restaurants in New Jersey, New York, including seven restaurant concepts: Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, Panera Bread, Wendy’s, Jinya Ramen Bar, Chevys Fresh Mex and its own concepts, The Shannon Rose Irish Pub and Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas. In addition, Doherty Enterprises is also a franchisee of Sola Salon Studios with 12 locations in Staten Island and New Jersey.
Doherty Enterprises is ranked 27th Largest Franchisee in the United States by Restaurant Finance Monitor, is recognized as the 80th largest Foodservice revenue company in the United States by Nation’s Restaurant News, the 67th largest privately held business in the New York Metro area by Crain’s Business, and 26th in NJ’s Top 250 privately held companies & 5th Largest Family-Owned Business Based on Employees in New Jersey by NJBIZ.
The Doherty vision is to be the “Best Food Service Company in the Communities We Serve” and its mission is to “Wow Every Guest Every Time, Wow our People, Wow Our Communities and Wow Our Suppliers.” Doherty Enterprises has also been lending a helping hand to team members and their immediate families when financially burdened through the WOW a Friend Foundation. To date, the foundation has assisted more than 4,200 people and donated over $5.7 million directly back to those in need. (www.DohertyInc.com).
The post Select Doherty-Owned Applebee’s® Restaurants in New Jersey and New York Launch Annual “Stuff the Bus” School Supply Drive first appeared on
Original Press Release.
