The City of Edmonton said the 30th Annual Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) Stuff a Bus campaign will be supporting people in need by providing non-perishable food and financial donations to Edmonton’s, Strathcona and Parkland Food Bank.The campaign serves as a partnership between ETS, Strathcona County Transit Service, and Save-On-Foods and runs from Wednesday to Sunday. “Every holiday season, Edmonton comes alive with cheer and spirit,” said Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi in a press release.“But this time of year can also be challenging for many families.”Sohi said Edmontonians “understand that making a great city requires empathy and looking out for one another.” That is why the ETS Stuff a Bus campaign began 30 years ago. To commemorate three decades of the campaign, Sohi proclaimed Wednesday to Sunday as ETS Stuff a Bus Week in Edmonton.The City of Edmonton encouraged residents to support the campaign by providing a financial or food donation. A full list of donation locations, including dates and times, is available at edmonton.ca/StuffaBus.It said people can donate by going to the ETS buses onsite at 15 participating Save-On-Foods locations on Saturday. Additionally, it noted ETS staff will be at each Save-On-Foods location collecting donations.On Saturday, donations will be collected at all Sherwood Park Save-On-Foods locations to support the Strathcona Food Bank and the Spruce Grove Save-On-Foods to support the Parkland Food Bank. It said Stuff a Train will be at Century Park on Saturday and Clareview LRT Station on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. In this case, it said Edmonton’s Food Bank (EFB) volunteers will be on site collecting non-perishable food and cashless tap donations.Cram a Transit Peace Officer Cruiser had been held at three Save-On-Foods locations with non-perishable food donations between Wednesday and Friday. People can go through the checkout counters at 19 Save-On-Foods locations to donate in $2 amounts. They can go online to the EFB website. Under the fund dropdown, they can select ETS Stuff a Bus for a minimum of $3 for online donations. They can text FEEDYEG to 20222 to donate $10 or $20 that is added to their phone bills. To show support, they can purchase a prepackaged $10 bag of groceries for donation at Save-On-Foods. The bags will be added to the cruisers and buses during the public events or to the buses on Saturday if purchased before that date.Save-on-Foods Regional Director Lance Bell said it has been serving the Edmonton market since it opened its first store in the city in 1989. “Our stores support Edmonton's Food Bank year-round,” said Bell. “We are proud to partner with the City on this campaign, especially now, when people are turning to food banks more than ever.” Bell said it takes great pride in being part of the community. The City of Edmonton said the need has never been greater. EFB’s food hampers helped 43,000 people in June 2023 — an all-time high in its 43-year history. EFB Executive Director Marjorie Bencz called the Stuff a Bus campaign “an incredible example of collaboration and unwavering community support.” “Stuff a Bus has helped Edmonton’s Food Bank meet the growing needs in our community,” said Bencz.“The rising cost of living, compounded by inflation, continues to strain individuals and families across Edmonton.” While the journey is challenging, Bencz said EFB knows it can succeed with support from partners such as ETS and Save-on-Foods and community donors. She said they are appreciated. No matter how small, the City of Edmonton said every donation is appreciated and can help contribute to greater food security throughout the area. It said a $3.58 contribution feeds one person one meal. No matter how people choose to donate, it said every box, bag and dollar counts, making a difference and helping fill hearts and homes. In 2023, more than 23,000 kilograms of food was collected at Save-On-Foods locations and more than $10,000 in cash was collected through online, text, and check-out donations. Since Stuff a Bus' campaign first launched, it had collected over 600,000 kilograms of food and $515,000 in cash donations to help feed vulnerable people. A report from Statistics Canada warned in August almost one-quarter of Canadians are so hard up they expect to eat at the food bank this fall, with 35% stressed about money..StatsCan report indicates 23% of Canadians expect to use the food bank this fall.The rate was higher than reported in Canadian Social Surveys during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Findings from the current analysis show certain groups are experiencing greater financial strain due to rising prices, including those with lower incomes, younger adults, households with children and persons with disabilities,” said federal analysts.
The City of Edmonton said the 30th Annual Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) Stuff a Bus campaign will be supporting people in need by providing non-perishable food and financial donations to Edmonton’s, Strathcona and Parkland Food Bank.The campaign serves as a partnership between ETS, Strathcona County Transit Service, and Save-On-Foods and runs from Wednesday to Sunday. “Every holiday season, Edmonton comes alive with cheer and spirit,” said Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi in a press release.“But this time of year can also be challenging for many families.”Sohi said Edmontonians “understand that making a great city requires empathy and looking out for one another.” That is why the ETS Stuff a Bus campaign began 30 years ago. To commemorate three decades of the campaign, Sohi proclaimed Wednesday to Sunday as ETS Stuff a Bus Week in Edmonton.The City of Edmonton encouraged residents to support the campaign by providing a financial or food donation. A full list of donation locations, including dates and times, is available at edmonton.ca/StuffaBus.It said people can donate by going to the ETS buses onsite at 15 participating Save-On-Foods locations on Saturday. Additionally, it noted ETS staff will be at each Save-On-Foods location collecting donations.On Saturday, donations will be collected at all Sherwood Park Save-On-Foods locations to support the Strathcona Food Bank and the Spruce Grove Save-On-Foods to support the Parkland Food Bank. It said Stuff a Train will be at Century Park on Saturday and Clareview LRT Station on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. In this case, it said Edmonton’s Food Bank (EFB) volunteers will be on site collecting non-perishable food and cashless tap donations.Cram a Transit Peace Officer Cruiser had been held at three Save-On-Foods locations with non-perishable food donations between Wednesday and Friday. People can go through the checkout counters at 19 Save-On-Foods locations to donate in $2 amounts. They can go online to the EFB website. Under the fund dropdown, they can select ETS Stuff a Bus for a minimum of $3 for online donations. They can text FEEDYEG to 20222 to donate $10 or $20 that is added to their phone bills. To show support, they can purchase a prepackaged $10 bag of groceries for donation at Save-On-Foods. The bags will be added to the cruisers and buses during the public events or to the buses on Saturday if purchased before that date.Save-on-Foods Regional Director Lance Bell said it has been serving the Edmonton market since it opened its first store in the city in 1989. “Our stores support Edmonton's Food Bank year-round,” said Bell. “We are proud to partner with the City on this campaign, especially now, when people are turning to food banks more than ever.” Bell said it takes great pride in being part of the community. The City of Edmonton said the need has never been greater. EFB’s food hampers helped 43,000 people in June 2023 — an all-time high in its 43-year history. EFB Executive Director Marjorie Bencz called the Stuff a Bus campaign “an incredible example of collaboration and unwavering community support.” “Stuff a Bus has helped Edmonton’s Food Bank meet the growing needs in our community,” said Bencz.“The rising cost of living, compounded by inflation, continues to strain individuals and families across Edmonton.” While the journey is challenging, Bencz said EFB knows it can succeed with support from partners such as ETS and Save-on-Foods and community donors. She said they are appreciated. No matter how small, the City of Edmonton said every donation is appreciated and can help contribute to greater food security throughout the area. It said a $3.58 contribution feeds one person one meal. No matter how people choose to donate, it said every box, bag and dollar counts, making a difference and helping fill hearts and homes. In 2023, more than 23,000 kilograms of food was collected at Save-On-Foods locations and more than $10,000 in cash was collected through online, text, and check-out donations. Since Stuff a Bus' campaign first launched, it had collected over 600,000 kilograms of food and $515,000 in cash donations to help feed vulnerable people. A report from Statistics Canada warned in August almost one-quarter of Canadians are so hard up they expect to eat at the food bank this fall, with 35% stressed about money..StatsCan report indicates 23% of Canadians expect to use the food bank this fall.The rate was higher than reported in Canadian Social Surveys during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Findings from the current analysis show certain groups are experiencing greater financial strain due to rising prices, including those with lower incomes, younger adults, households with children and persons with disabilities,” said federal analysts.
