17th Annual Stuff A Bus 2011 this week

17th Annual Stuff A Bus 2011 this week

When? Starting at 6am on November 10th through 12 noon on November 12th
Where? At Price Chopper and Hannaford’s in the City of Rutland

Rutland, Vermont… Marble Valley Regional Transit District (MVRTD) “The Bus” is pleased to provide its services again for the annual Stuff A Bus event that is organized in partnership with WJJR, B.R.O.C. and The Salvation Army as well as Price Chopper and Hannaford’s.  The annual Stuff A Bus event has been part of downtown Rutland for the past 17 years and was started between members of The Salvation Army, Terry Jaye, Operations Manager for Catamount Radio and MVRTD “The Bus” to enable our community members to donate items to those in need so they in turn can celebrate a great holiday season.

The community is encouraged to drop off any non-perishable items at the MVRTD buses that will be located at both Price Chopper Plaza in downtown Rutland as well as at Hannaford’s on South Main Street in Rutland from 6am on November 10, 2011 until 12 noon on November 12, 2011. WJJR will be broadcasting live with such favorites as Nanci Gordon and Terry Jaye, from 6am to 7pm on Thursday and Friday and from 6am to noon on Saturday at both locations.

Donations are not limited to food items only; items such as diapers, baby food, pet food, toothpaste and the like are also accepted. If you wish to donate cash, the canteens are ready again this year on each bus to collect your donations. These monies will be used to purchase turkeys for the give-away baskets or any other items needed to fill the many baskets volunteers prepare for families in need!

Many volunteers gather together to make this event successful by helping to stuff the buses, lend a hand, or unload the buses on November 12th at The Salvation Army where the buses will be weighed for a final count.

Some other organizations have come up with their own plans for collection. In past years, the Northwest Primary School has played a great role in collecting items from its own students. “The kids are very excited about this project,” says Kristin Hubert, Principal of Northwest Primary School. “The school kicked off the event with a pep rally in the gym led by the school’s mascot, Gecko.”
Pat Shappy, Volunteer Coordinator for Northwest Primary School, has played an integral part in this endeavor for many years. Each year the school sets a goal of 2,500 items. Last year alone they collected over 5,000. The students have turned this into a contest and the classes who collect the most items get prizes.

The Northwest Primary School has partnered up again this year with Heritage Family Credit Union, but this year a special incentive has been created. Carrie Allen, AVP Business Development, is thrilled that HFCU has agreed to match each item of food with a $1 in cash up to $2,500 to be donated to The Salvation Army and B.R.O.C. for persons in need of help this season.

Your donations can be dropped off at both HFCU branches on West Street and Allen Street in Rutland, prior to November 10th and will then be taken by the students of Northwest Primary School to be dropped off at the Stuff A Bus location at Price Chopper.

An interview by Saskia Hagen Groom, PEGTV Host and Community Outreach for MVRTD “The Bus” with guests Major Charles Balcom from The Salvation Army, Terry Jaye, Operations Manager at Catamount Radio and Kristin Hubert, Principal of Northwest Primary School can be viewed Thursday, November 10th at 8pm and Friday, November 11th at 11:30am on PEGTV’s Channel 15 or can be viewed 24 hours a day online at www.pegtv.com Video on Demand – Search for Stuff A Bus – Saskia’s Show.

Visit our website at www.thebus.com  for schedules and more information or call (802) 773-3244 ext. 117.

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