8th Annual “Stuff the Bus” Food Drive Aims to Provide Meals for the Holidays

CapMetro, Food Bank & Whole Foods Market team up to help those in need.

AUSTIN, Texas - CapMetro, Whole Foods Market and the Central Texas Food Bank are teaming up for the eighth year to encourage the community to “Stuff the Bus.” The goal of the event is to help area residents by collecting meals for individuals and families in need during the holidays. The theme of the event is, “This holiday season, feel good again.”

This year's goal is to provide at least 20,000 nutritious meals to those facing hunger. The donations will go to the Central Texas Food Bank, which provides over 42 million meals to Central Texans each year.

Stuff the Bus runs through the weekend of Dec. 6-8, when two CapMetro buses will be parked at the Lamar and Domain Whole Foods Market locations.

Buses will be open for donations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with volunteers on hand to accept food items. The public can also make donations during store hours at all five Austin-area Whole Foods Market locations. Donation bins will be set up for this purpose. Customers can also add a dollar amount to their in-store purchase total at any Austin-area Whole Foods Market or make monetary donations  online. The CapMetro Transit Store is also accepting drop off donations weekdays through December 10th. The Transit Store is located in downtown Austin at 209 W. 9th St. and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The Food Bank encourages donations of healthy, non-perishable food items, such as canned tuna or chicken breast, canned low-sodium vegetables, canned fruit in its own juices, dry pinto beans, brown rice, 100% whole grain cereals, non-fat dry milk powder and peanut butter.

During the drive, donations will be accepted at any of the following Whole Foods Market stores:

While the buses will be at the Whole Foods Market Lamar and Domain locations, donation bins will be set up at all five Austin-area Whole Foods Market locations, including the Bee Cave, Arbor Trails and Gateway stores.

Media Opportunity:
Representatives from all three partners will be available on Friday, Dec. 6 from 6:30-8:30 a.m. at the Domain Whole Foods location. Kaci Kent and John Scarnato will be available from Whole Foods Market at that time. The Central Texas Food Bank will have their CEO, Derrick Chubbs, available. Please contact Jenna Maxfield, CapMetro's representative, to schedule morning shows and other interviews throughout the day. If you would like to pre-record an interview before Friday, we can accommodate that as well.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Jenna Maxfield, 512-592-2171
CCR-Communications@capmetro.org