Capital Metro, Whole Foods Market and the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas have teamed up once again to encourage the community to “Stuff the Bus” to help area residents in need, expanding the event with buses to fill at three Austin Whole Foods Market locations.
The goal of the three-day event is to fill three Capital Metro buses with non-perishable food items, which will provide up to 40,000 nutritious meals to those struggling with hunger. The food drive benefits the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas, which works with nearly 300 partner agencies in 21 Central Texas counties.
This year, local producers, Hot Dang veggie burgers, have committed to contributing 280 cases (1,400 pounds) of product along with local grower, Vital Farms, pledging to donate 5,000 pounds of eggs towards the “Stuff the Bus” cause.
Food items will be collected Dec. 11-13, at all five Austin-area Whole Foods Market locations with Capital Metro buses parked at the Downtown, Domain and Arbor Trails locations. Buses will be open for donations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily with volunteers on hand to accept food items. Monetary and product donations will also be accepted at all locations during regular store hours.
“For a fourth year, we are partnering with Whole Foods Market and the Capital Area Food Bank, and challenging the community to help support families in need,” said Capital Metro President/CEO Linda Watson. “We set the bar high this year so that the impact of this event can help to brighten the holiday season for many more people.”
This year, “Stuff the Bus” will expand to include an additional collection location at the Whole Foods Market Arbor Trails store.
“We’re very excited to be participating in the Stuff the Bus campaign again this year and love seeing the event continue to grow,” said Steph Steele, store team leader for Whole Foods Market. “With a third bus at our Whole Foods Market Arbor Trails store this year, we’re hoping to draw more attention to what Capital Area Food Bank does for our community, and provide more meals to our friends and neighbors who are in need this holiday.”
The Food Bank encourages donations of healthy, non-perishable food items, such as canned meats like tuna, stew and chili; canned vegetables; pasta and pasta sauce; beans; healthy cereals; non-fat dry milk powder and peanut butter.
“The need for hunger relief continues to grow in Central Texas,” said Hank Perret, president and CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas. “Thankfully, with an innovative community partnership like Stuff the Bus, we are able to dramatically improve the lives of our neighbors struggling to stay nourished this holiday season.”
