San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) and its partners collected 37,481 pounds of food at the 16th Annual Stuff the Bus food drive on Nov. 14-16. This year, the events collected almost 8,000 pounds more than in 2013. Since 1999, RTD and its partners have raised over 245,000 pounds of food donations at Stuff the Bus events.
RTD led local transit agencies of Lodi Grapeline, Manteca Transit, and Escalon eTrans in a countywide effort to hold simultaneous food drives in each city to collect food for a nonprofit agency. Those agencies include Emergency Food Bank of Stockton, Salvation Army of Lodi, Second Harvest Food Bank and Escalon CARE. Area Boy Scouts participated in Stuff the Bus events in Stockton and Lodi by dropping off food donations collected through the “Scouting for Food” program.
Individually, each organization collected: 10,172 lbs. (RTD); 5,495 lbs. (Lodi Grapeline); 15,474 lbs. (Boy Scouts of America – Greater Yosemite Council); 5,000 lbs. (Manteca Transit); and
1,340 lbs. (Escalon eTrans). Together, the food donations will provide 29,985 meals.
Cumulus Broadcasting, The Record newspaper, Food 4 Less, and Big Boy Market sponsored the events. KWIN/KWNN (97.7/98.3) promoted the campaign with live on-site broadcasts, promotional appearances, on-air interviews, and public service announcements. The Record promoted the food drive with event advertising in The Stockton Record, Recordnet.com, and Vida en la Valle Magazine. Food 4 Less stores in Lodi, Manteca, and on Lower Sacramento Road in Stockton, along with Big Boy market in Escalon, hosted the three-day event.
In addition to thanking campaign partners for their continued support, RTD would like to give special thanks to the organizations and people who helped make this year’s food drive a success:
- All the Stuff the Bus participants and event volunteers and staff
- Boy Scouts of America – Greater Yosemite Council
- Lodi Grapeline, Manteca Transit, and Escalon eTrans
- Amanda King and Lucas, Meilani, Jiggy, the KWIN and KJOY staff, and their generous listeners
- Emergency Food Bank of Stockton, Salvation Army of Lodi, Second Harvest Food Bank of Manteca, and Escalon CARE staff and volunteers for their support
