Agencies partner for Stuff the Bus Food Drive
QUEENSBURY, N.Y. >> Community, Work and Independence Inc. (CWI Inc,) and the TriCounty United Way are partnering with other local agencies to host the Sixth Annual Stuff the Bus Food Drive that will benefit food pantries in Warren, Washington and Northern Saratoga Counties.
The food drive will be held on Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m and Saturday, Nov. 2, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Upper Glen Street Price Chopper/Market 32 store.
In 2018, the event collected 4.2 tons of food for twenty food pantries, up from 3.8 tons of food in 2017. This event is being held prior to the holiday season when many people are looking for ways to give back to their communities and when many people are feeling the pressure of wanting to prepare a holiday meal for their family.
The community is encouraged to drop off non-perishable and non-breakable food items at any one of the 65+ businesses in the tri-county area who are sponsoring a food collection site prior to the event or at the CWI bus that will be located at the Price Chopper/Market 32 parking lot during the event hours on Nov. 1-2.
A complete list of participating pantries and food collection sites can be found at www. cwinc.org or www.tricountyunitedway.org.
Mark Donahue, President/ CEO, CWI, Inc. is pleased with the participation in the initiative:
“Community, Work & Independence Inc. (CWI) is proud of the involvement of our staff and the people from CWI that we support who are volunteering to assist the event by delivering and picking up food collection bins from area businesses,” Donahue said.
“These people also spend two days at Price Chopper/Market 32 prior to the event packing $5 and $10 quick purchase food bags. Their participation is key to the success of the program.”
Executive Director, TriCounty United Way Duane Vaughn agrees:
“We are excited to be partnering again with so many wonderful organizations to work on another program targeted at fighting hunger in our region,” says,” It is our hope that by working together with residents, local agencies, schools, churches and businesses, we can make the holidays brighter for those who may be struggling to put food on the table.”
Donations are not limited to food items only. Items such as diapers, baby food, pet food, toothpaste, toiletries and the like will also be accepted. Anyone interested in making a monetary donation should call the Tri-County United Way at (518) 793-3136 or mail their donation payable to the Tri-County United Way, 696 Upper Glen St., Queensbury, NY 12804.
Sponsors of the event include Price Chopper/Market 32, Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Company, Stored Tech, Jaeger & Flynn; NBT Bank; Hank’s Quality Flooring; Just-A-Buck Queensbury; M&M Digital Printing;
G & S Printing; Six Flags Great Escape Theme Park and Lodge; and Adirondack Broadcasting’s 107.1 The Point Hits Music, Froggy 100.3 Everything Country and Q101.7 Classic Hits.