A local pastor has received a donation of a school bus for an overseas ministry and is looking to fill it with donations of needed items before the bus is shipped this summer.

Pastor Chris Surber of Liberty Spring Christian Church, who with his wife Christina founded the Supply and Multiply ministry in Haiti, said the bus was donated by Suffolk Public Schools after he asked for a donation. The bus had been headed to auction.

Surber said he was interested in having the bus to transport missions teams while in Haiti.

“We typically have to rent vehicles,” he said.

A mechanic friend of Surber’s currently has the bus at his Gates County, N.C., workshop. He has removed the back third of the seats and reinforced the floor to create a cargo area. The bus will still be able to seat about 30 people, Surber said.

They will ship the bus this summer and hope a team going from several local churches in October will be able to use it.

“We’re looking into some different options to try to ship it as cheaply as possible,” Surber said, estimating the cost to be around $3,800, in addition to customs charges.

Because the shipping charges are by volume, not by weight, the Surbers are collecting donations of various items to pack into the bus to support the ministry in Haiti.

One of the main programs is the Matthew 25 House, which cares for the elderly in the impoverished nation of Haiti. It is in an area known as Montrouis (pronounced moe-wee).

A second Matthew 25 House is under construction and will be completed by the summer, Surber said.

The list of items needed includes:

• Dual tub washing machine
• Ceramic tile
• Wheelbarrow
• Plastic shelving
• Canned meats
• Liquid or powdered protein drinks such as Ensure, PediaSure and Carnation Breakfast
• Infant formula
• Dog food for security dogs
• Stand-up or box fans
• Toilet
• Bathroom sink
• Yard solar lights — automatic or motion-activated
• Laundry soap
• Shovel
• Musical instruments

Surber said anyone thinking of donating something else should talk it over with him first.

“You can pack it with all kinds of things that are difficult to get there or very expensive,” he said.

There is a $15,000 pledge from a partner ministry. Surber said they are aiming to match donations to complete the Matthew 25 House and ship the bus.

Anyone who would like to donate items can email contact@supplyandmultiply.com or call 374-5347.