Stuff A Bus Food and Clothing Drive very successful this year

Vicki Hewison, Joe Stockinger, Laurel Holte, Wayne Camber
Kelsey Norman, Kristy Stevens, Sharon Roberts
T. Lucas photos

Toni Lucas

The Stuff A Bus food and clothing drive was held by First Student, Pincher Creek Co-op, and the Pincher Creek Lions at the Ranchland Mall on Saturday, December 6.  It was very successful, according to First Student Location Manager Sharon Roberts who was at the bus parked by the entranceto the mall. "This is our second annual Stuff the Bus, and we already have more than we did last year. We're only halfway through the day!" enthused Roberts. They took what was in the donations bins, and people also stopped by throughout the day to bring their donations to the bus. The Pincher Creek Lions Club had a table inside the mall where new and gently used winter clothing was being collected.  Roberts spoke of one anonymous donor who lives in Calgary and vacations in the area who donated close to $600 of food items.  "He blew us all away.  He came out with two full carts of food.  This one guy almost had all of us in tears."

Front to back: Samantha, Leigh, and Joel Bonwick, Wayne Camber

All of the donation were appreciated. People came up to the bus with carts, individual bags of food, and even cash donations. Roberts said that "Every little bit helped." She was thrilled that so many local kids were excited about bringing in their donations.

Tyler Hayward helping out

Pincher Creek Lions Club Representative Anne Elton explained that "We are all part of the same thing," that everything collected would go to the Pincher Creek Food Bank including the boxes of new and gently used winter outerwear. Clothing donations can now be dropped off at Pincher Office Products.

Frank and Ann Bruder, Anne Elton

The Co-op had pre-made three different types of  packages that they worked with the food bank to design.  These packages and drop off bins will be in the mall through the season.  First Student has volunteered to collect the food and donations of clothing every Friday until December 19, to take it to the Food Bank to be distributed.

Ready to Stuff A Bus!

"I look forward to doing this again next year," said Roberts.