Rock 102 Stuff the Bus aims to fill shelves at Saskatoon Food Bank

Rock 102’s Stuff the Bus event is back for its 18th year.

The event was born back in 2005, when Saskatoon Transit operator Eroca Pellerin decided she wanted to do something to help the needy in her community, and came up with the idea to fill a city bus full of groceries to donate to the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre. Since then, the event has become a holiday tradition, donating more than a half-million pounds of food and raising more than $447,000.

Laurie O’Connor, executive director with the Saskatoon Food Bank, said there are more families than ever relying on the food bank for help.

“With 1 in 4 children experiencing poverty in this province, we all need to play a role in making sure folks have food on the table. And that really is part of the magic of this city – everyday people stepping up because they are concerned for others and want to do what they can to help,” O’Connor said in a statement.

“Stuff the Bus is one of the many ways people can get involved and show support during the holiday season.”

About 20,000 people have made use of the food bank’s emergency food hamper program in recent months. Almost half of them are children, many younger than five years old.

Donations for this year’s Stuff the Bus can be dropped off at Pitchfork Market & Kitchen any time between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The food bank shared a few specific requests for items, including baby formula, hearty soups and stews, whole grain pasta and cereal, canned vegetables, beans, and 100 per cent real fruit juices.

Rock 102 is the sister station to 650 CKOM.