The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) Stuff-a-Bus is in full swing.
AVTA’s staff and charity volunteers have been busy collecting donations of new toys and clothing items for local children in need this holiday season. Their goal is to collect enough toys, clothing, and other gifts to fill up a 40’ AVTA bus. All donated items will benefit local charities, and volunteers from those charities have been working hard alongside AVTA staff to ensure the children and families they serve will have a much brighter holiday season.
“The AVTA holiday toy drive is an incredible community effort that showcases the unity of Antelope Valley residents,” said AVTA Chair Norm Hickling. “AVTA’s Stuff-a-Bus has been a success for more than 20 years thanks to support from the business community and from local charity volunteers who step up year after year to help out, without hesitation.”
On Dec. 16, the AVTA Stuff-a-Bus will be at the Antelope Valley Board of Trade (AVBOT) Holiday Breakfast at the Hellenic Center in Lancaster, and on December 17, AVTA will host its final Stuff-a-Bus event, the Bagging Party! Volunteers from participating children’s charities, along with AVTA staff members, will gather in the AVTA Community Room to bag up all of the donated toys and clothes. Each charity will be prepared to haul their goodies away for final distribution to the families they serve. This year’s event will benefit families from Grace Resource Center, Children’s Center of the Antelope Valley, South Antelope Valley Emergency Services of Palmdale, Child and Family Guidance Center, and Children’s Bureau, Antelope Valley.
“It’s gratifying to see the generosity of our Valley residents and volunteers who donate to Stuff-A-Bus, and the smiles on the faces of the kids make all of our efforts worthwhile,” said Executive Director Julie Austin. “We also have the support of wonderful sponsors, without whom this would not be possible.”
Nearly 30 businesses helped AVTA to raise $16,000 to help purchase items for the holiday drive. The major sponsors include Walmart, BYD, the City of Lancaster, the City of Palmdale, Transdev, High Desert Broadcasting, Avail Technologies, Jethawks, Op Sec Security and Granite Construction.
