Highly successful Stuff the Bus drive helps the Pincher Creek Food Bank

Volunteers Wayne Cambers, Kristen McMullen, Sharon Roberts, David Crowell,
Cherylanne Nazarek with her children Chloe and Brooklyn
T. Lucas Photos

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

First Student Canada Pincher Creek Location Manager Sharon Roberts has spearheaded a 'Stuff the Bus' Project to help the Food Bank and the Women's Emergency Shelter with donations.

Roberts organized decorated buses that were situated in the parking lots of the Pincher Creek Co-op and Sobeys grocery store on Saturday, December 14.

The assembly line filling the bus

 People were welcome to donate non-perishable food. In addition there were donations of toys and money that were collected. "I used to do this (Stuff the Bus program) when I was with Edmonton Transit," said Roberts. She feels that this is a good partnership as the bus drivers see children every day. "We see a lot of kids going to school, and it's nice to think that they are not going to school hungry."

Cherylanne Nazarek, Wayne Cambers, Kristen McMullen,
Sharon Roberts, David Crowell, (Front) Chloe and Brooklyn 

The local food bank serves over 300 families, and that may mean over 600 children according to bus driver Wayne Camber. Camber has previously been on the boards of both the Women's Shelter and the Food Bank and knows how great the need is in this community. First Student volunteers included Sharon Roberts, Wayne Camber, Diana and Jeremy Bramer, Kristen McMullen, Vicki Hewison, Monica Burles, and Cherylanne Nazarek with her children Brooklyn and Chloe.

Pincher Creek Co-op General Manager David Crowell helps fill the bus

Roberts appreciated that Co-op staff had prepared bags that people could just buy and donate with different meal kits at a variety of costs. "It takes the guesswork out of it, for those that are not sure what is needed."  The Co-op has a 'Say Good Buy To Hunger' in store program where people can donate a prepared package to the food bank through the month of December that was taken on as a project by Grocery Manager Clayton Lejan and employee Valerie Bedford-Powell that worked very well with this project.  As the buses were right in Co-op and Sobeys parking lot it was easy for customers to donate to the cause. The bus will go to St. Michael's School on Monday morning December 16 to pick up what the students there have collected toward this drive.

"I'm really excited, it's done really well," said Roberts. There was no concern of getting too much donated. "The need is throughout the entire year, and January is a hard month for many people," said Roberts. She believes that next year she can work with more partners and pick up toys, blankets, and clothing that may be needed in addition to food for the Christmas season.