Central Texans showed overwhelming support during the 3rd Annual “Stuff the Bus” food drive this weekend, helping to raise 30,329 meals, benefiting the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas.
This year’s accomplishments were unmatched, exceeding the goal of 30,000 meals. Food items collected over the weekend were more than double previous years. During 2012 and 2013, “Stuff the Bus” raised a combined total of approximately 15,000 meals.
During the three-day food collection marathon held Dec. 12-14, Capital Metro, Whole Foods Market and the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas accepted non-perishable food item donations at the five Austin-area Whole Foods Market locations.
Community members donated food items ranging from canned tuna to brown rice — filling the interior of two Capital Metro buses parked at the Downtown and Domain Whole Foods Market stores. This year, “Stuff the Bus” expanded to its second Whole Foods Market bus collection site at the Domain.
“It was so great to see food donations piled high in the seats of our buses by Sunday night. Our community really knocked it out of the park during this year’s ‘Stuff the Bus’,” said Capital Metro President/CEO Linda S Watson. “We set the bar high this year, and we can’t thank Central Texans enough for the outpouring of support for our neighbors in need.”
In addition, on Dec. 13, Whole Foods Market team members competed for most creative dish using only pantry staple food items during the inaugural "Stuff the Bus: Pantry Staples Cook-off." Customers were able to sample food at all area Whole Foods Market locations and learn how to turn non-perishable pantry staples into healthy, budget friendly meals.
The 3rd Annual “Stuff the Bus” event now ranks in the Capital Area Food Bank’s list of top 20 collecting initiatives of the year.
“The donations from this year’s Stuff the Bus event will provide over 30,000 meals to Central Texans facing hunger during this holiday season,” said Hank Perret, president and CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank. “We set a lofty goal for the event this year and I want to thank everyone for helping us exceed it.”
The 30,000 meals collected this weekend have already been received into the Food Bank inventory to be distributed to community service sites across 21 Central Texas counties, including 300 partner agencies and mobile food pantries.
Inventory in the Capital Area Food Bank’s South Congress storage turns over every 21 days, serving more than 300,000 clients each year.
Capital Metro, Whole Foods Market and the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas look forward to the 4th Annual “Stuff the Bus” food drive, coming December 2015.
