EVERETT, Wash., December 11, 2023—The Silver Lake area Fred Meyer store successfully wrapped up its annual Stuff-A-Bus Food and Toy drive on Sunday, December 10, in partnership with Everett Transit, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 883 (ATU 883), and Volunteers of America Western Washington (VOAWW).
For three weekends after Thanksgiving Day shoppers had the opportunity to load an Everett Transit bus – located at 12906 Bothell-Everett Hwy near SR 527 in Everett – with gifts and donations to be distributed to local families. The year’s goal was to provide 6,000 meals and 2,500 gifts. Although toys are the most requested items for children who would otherwise have no gifts to open on Christmas, donations also included shelf-stable foods and essentials like hygiene items, diapers, undergarments, and warm winter clothing.
The event ran for three consecutive weekends: November 25 and 26, December 2 and 3, and December 9 and 10, from 10am – 4pm. Donors also had the opportunity of donating items online by visiting https://bit.ly/stuffabus2023.
Beginning Monday, the 40-foot E-Gillig fully electric bus will transport the donations to Salvation Army where they will be distributed to families in need.
Representative Rick Larsen was one of the many volunteers to attend Saturday food and toy drive.
“I am glad to be back helping to communicate to the folks that there are others in need,” Rep. Larsen told the Lynnwood Times. “I just want to help out where I can.”
For over 30 years, ATU 833 has hosted an annual Stuff-A-Bus charity drive on the three Saturdays after Thanksgiving Day.
In 2018 Everett Transit began electrifying its fleet to reduce the agency’s carbon footprint. According to its website, the ongoing transition to an electric fleet has avoided producing 2,295,000 pounds of CO2 emissions in Everett.
Dr. Steve Woodard, Vice President of Community Engagement with Volunteers of America, and Mountlake Terrace Councilman, would like to thank everyone who donated and volunteered making this year’s charity drive a success.
“This is wonderful opportunity to get involved,” Dr. Woodard said.
