‘Stuff a Bus’ campaign kicks off in Halifax

HALIFAX – Organizers are gearing up for the annual Stuff a Bus campaign on Friday, and they hope to match or beat the total collected last year.

The Stuff a Bus campaign is a collaboration between Amalgamated Transit Union local 508, Halifax Transit and Feed Nova Scotia.

The aim is to stuff transit buses with food and monetary donations for families in need this holiday season.

This is the 24th year the event has taken place.

“It was started back in 1990 by an operator named Jim Bartlett and his son. His son came up with the idea of helping families around town and he took the idea and ran with it,” said Joelle Majeau, the Stuff a Bus representative for ATU 508.

Majeau said the event raised 21,000 kilograms of food and $1,300 last year. She hopes this year’s event is even more successful.

“This time of year is always hard because you have to buy Christmas gifts and there’s a lot of people now that aren’t making enough money to support their family with food and the luxuries, like toothpaste, you just can’t afford it all,” she said.

“As much as we can do to raise money and help somebody who is a single parent with a couple kids or anybody who needs it, it’s a great event and it’s the most successful fundraiser event in metro.”

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Feed Nova Scotia spokesperson Karen Theriault said the need for donations is significant.

WATCH: Global’s Julia Wong speaks with Feed Nova Scotia about the importance of the campaign

“Trying to describe who those people are is really impossible. There’s everyone: kids, grandparents, single individuals, it crosses all the gamut. We do know that every month there are more than 22,00o people going to food banks in Nova Scotia. The need is there,” she said.

Theriault said she sees joy and relief on the faces of the families who receive the donations.

“Food is so much more than just about relieving the physical signs of hunger. Our biggest experience is that when someone is hungry, when there’s no food in the house or no money to buy groceries, there’s an overwhelming fear and anxiety,” she said.

“When we’re able to provide food for people then we’re replacing that fear and anxiety with comfort, with nourishment and with hope.”

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About eight buses will travel through Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford and Sackville picking up donations from more than 80 companies, schools and daycares who pre-registered to be part of the campaign.

WATCH: Global’s Julia Wong speaks with Halifax Transit about its role in the Stuff a Bus campaign

If you are still interested in giving, donations can be dropped off at any Scotiabank branch, Feed Nova Scotia on the Bedford Highway or directly to the bus, which will be located at C100 on Agricola Street until 9 a.m. on Friday.