The Stuff-A-Bus food drive is commemorating its 30th anniversary by raising this year’s collection goal even higher.
On Fri., officials involved in the campaign announced they hope to gather ten tons of food for official the weigh-in on November 27th. The donations benefit Peoria Friendship House’s food pantry.
Maxine Wortham, Chair of the Greater Peoria Mass Transit District board, says Stuff-a-Bus began as a small, door-to-door effort.
“What was it like? First of all, we didn’t get eight tons of food!,” Wortham said. “We continue to grow, and that’s a good thing.”
Last year’s drive collected 8.6 tons of food. Wortham says that supply kept Friendship House’s pantry stocked through August. The non-profit says the pantry was able to provide 54,000 meals to families and individuals in need since January.
“Our little organization can’t solve the problem of hunger. But stuff like this gets the word out, and it gets people in the mood to do something,” Robert Montgomery, president and CEO of Friendship House, said.
This is Montgomery's first Stuff-a-Bus campaign. The new CEO was hired by Friendship House last month, and he’s since been camping out on the nonprofit’s roof to raise $500,000.