It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Antelope Valley Transit Authority. The transit agency's 2017 Stuff-a-Bus Holiday Toy Drive is in full swing, and its specially decorated all-electric, zero emission bus has been making its way around the Antelope Valley.
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 the bus to the roof. With over $25,000 donated by community business sponsors to help purchase items for the toy drive, the bus is bursting with holiday cheer and the transit agency is more than halfway towards its goal.
"Bringing joy to our neighbors and those who are in need is a great way to start the holiday season," said AVTA Board Chair Marvin Crist. "By donating to Stuff-a-Bus, we can help make the holidays much brighter for many families in our community."
There is still room in the bus for more, and the agency hopes to fill in the gaps this weekend with two more opportunities for AV residents to donate to AVTA’s Stuff-a-Bus. On Saturday, December 9, the Stuff-A-Bus will roll along Avenue P-8 in Palmdale as part of the Palmdale Chamber of Commerce William J. "Pete" Knight "Minions" Christmas Parade. Later that same day, AVTA will take part in "A Magical BLVD Christmas" on Lancaster Blvd from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Stuff- a-Bus will be ready and waiting for donations of new unwrapped toys and clothing. The city of Lancaster and RE/MAX have partnered to supply a large quantity of gift items at this event, and for a small donation, folks can choose an item to stuff inside the bus. The final opportunity to help "Stuff That Bus!" will be on Sunday, December 10th, at the West Lancaster Walmart from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Residents can also stop by the city of Palmdale City Hall, Monday through Thursday between 7:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. until December 10, to drop off a donation.
The hundreds of toys and gifts collected so far would not have been possible without the generous support of major sponsors like Walmart, BYD, Transdev, High Desert Medical Group, Moore and Associates, Lancaster JetHawks, Taft Electric, Duke Engineering and OpSec Security, who collectively donated almost half of the overall total cash raised to purchase gifts for the valley's less fortunate children.
Everything that is donated, from basketballs and baby dolls, to warm clothing, books and games goes to organizations that provide assistance to families and children in need who reside here in the Antelope Valley. Families from Grace Resource Center, Children’s Center of the Antelope Valley, SAVES, Child and Family Guidance Center, Antelope Valley Partners for Health, and the Marco & Sandra Johnson Foundation will benefit from this year's event.
"AVTA is committed to partnering with the community each holiday season, bringing joy to those in need," said AVTA CEO Len Engel. "The key to our success is our staff, volunteers, local residents and sponsors, all working together with the goal of helping kids."
