A simple brown paper bag filled with $5 worth of canned peas, green beans, corn and beans. Someone’s next meal. During Capital Metro’s fourth annual “Stuff the Bus” campaign, community members were able to purchase these bags to help families in need. A purchase here, a purchase there, and with the help of Central Texans, 48,003 meals were raised during the three-day food drive.
This year, a Capital Metro bus was parked outside of Whole Foods at Arbor Trails, Downtown and the Domain from Dec. 11-13. The goal was to raise 40,000 meals for families. Thanks to people like you, “Stuff the Bus” broke their fundraising record and exceeded their goal by more than 8,000 meals.
In addition to food donations, cash donations were also accepted at all five Whole Foods locations. This year, cash donations were matched by the Beaumont Foundation of America, who pledged to match all cash donations made to the Food Bank in November and December.
Local companies also participated in the food drive. Hot Dang helped achieve the meal goal by donating 280 cases of veggie burgers and Vital Farms donated 6,343 pounds of eggs.
Our community continues to surprise us. During 2012-2014, the “Stuff the Bus” campaign collected 45,000 meals, but in only one food drive, the total meals provided surpassed everything that has been collected in the past three years.
Thanks to the continued support from our neighbors, Capital Metro, Whole Foods, Hot Dang, and Vital Farms, all donations will help serve the nearly 46,000 people the Food Bank helps. The food will be distributed across 21 counties through our nearly 300 partner agencies and mobile food pantries.
