The annual ETS Stuff a Bus campaign is now underway, with a goal of collecting items for Edmonton’s Food Bank.
The food drive, now in its 22nd year, will see city buses set up outside Edmonton’s Save-On-Foods stores, transit centres and on the LRT through the weekend. Volunteers will collect cash and non-perishable food donations ahead of the busy Christmas season.
READ MORE: Edmonton’s Food Bank: ‘Food is going out faster than it’s coming in’
The items in highest demand this time of year include pasta and pasta sauce, macaroni and cheese, canned soups, canned fruits and vegetables, canned fish and meat and small jars of peanut butter.
A report released earlier this month showed Alberta has seen a 17 per cent increase in food bank visits this year. Since 2008, reliance on food banks in Alberta has skyrocketed by 136 per cent.
Edmonton’s Food Bank serves nearly 20,000 people each month through its hamper program. About 40 per cent of the food bank’s clients are children.
Watch below: Edmonton’s Food Bank struggles to keep food on the shelves
People can drop off donations at the following locations from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3:
Wednesday, Nov. 30:
Clareview Transit Centre – 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Edmonton City Hall (south end) – 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Save-On-Foods (167 Avenue & 50 Street NW) – 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 1:
Century Park Transit Centre – 6 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Save-On-Foods (11180 Ellerslie Road) – 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 2:
Save-On-Foods (3361 Calgary Trail NW) – 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 3:
All 15 Save-On-Foods stores in Edmonton – 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Spruce Grove Save-On-Foods – 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sherwood Park Save-On-Foods – 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Since its inception in 1995, the ETS Stuff a Bus campaign has collected more than 408,000 kilograms of food and $393,000.