Rutland Town School Students Launch 26th Annual Stuff A Bus Food Drive for Local Food Insecurity

With cheers of “Stuff that bus!” echoing through Rutland Town School on Friday morning, Oct. 16, students helped kick off the 26th annual Stuff A Bus campaign, a community-wide effort to collect food and essential supplies for Rutland-area residents in need. The event brought together representatives from the Rutland Community Cupboard, BROC Community Action, and the Rutland Salvation Army, who encouraged students to participate in the annual food drive.

The campaign will culminate with three days of collections at area supermarkets Nov. 5-7. Joining the representatives was Captain Credit Union, the familiar, red-costumed superhero from Heritage Credit Union who has become a regular fixture at the campaign’s school kickoff rallies. Captain Credit Union led students in enthusiastic chants of “Stuff that bus!” while encouraging them to help their neighbors.

This year, Rutland Town School aims to collect 2,000 nonperishable food items. If students reach that target, the school will be rewarded with a magic show. The campaign will also involve several other Rutland-area schools, with students collecting food donations that will be delivered to the buses on Thursday, Nov. 5.

Stuff a Bus will operate at four locations this year: Market 32 at Rutland Plaza, Market 32 in West Rutland, Hannaford and Grand Union in Rutland. At the Rutland Plaza Market 32, donations will be accepted from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Collections at the other three supermarkets will run from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday.

John Pedoni of the Rutland Salvation Army noted that Grand Union was among the original participating supermarkets when Stuff a Bus began 26 years ago. After an absence from the campaign, the store returned last year and is participating again this fall. The Salvation Army will also have its familiar red donation kettles at each bus, providing another opportunity for shoppers to contribute.

Heritage Credit Union is once again partnering with the campaign and will accept monetary donations at its branches. The credit union will match cash contributions made at its locations, up to a total of $2,000. “If they do a cash donation at the credit union, we’re actually doing a matching donation for that up to $2,000,” Captain Credit Union explained before the school rally.

Food and supplies collected during the campaign will be distributed through the Rutland Community Cupboard, BROC Community Action, and the Rutland Salvation Army. While the annual event offers an opportunity for students and community members to come together, organizers say the need for assistance is especially pressing this year.

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