iHeartMedia’s Summer 2020 Stuff-the-Bus Food Drive Collected Food and Funds to Help Feed Hungry Neighbors in the Mid-Hudson Region
Nearly $7000 and 4500 pounds of food donated
GOSHEN – “Hunger doesn’t take a holiday” has become the moto for iHeartMedia’s bi-annual Stuff-the-Bus food drive, now in its 23rd year. This year, in the wake of the pandemic, issues of hunger and food insecurity are growing daily making the Summer Stuff-the-Bus food drive more important than ever to feed our hungry neighbors.
Thanks to the generous support of Stop & Shop customers at three store locations, approximately 4500 pounds in non-perishable food and $3,569 in cash donations was collected by iHeartMedia radio personalities greeting shoppers as they entered the store. In addition, iHeartMedia’s Virtual Stuff-the-Bus online fundraiser, hosted in April, resulted in $3,245 in cash donations.
“Most years, the Summer Stuff-the-Bus drive helps restock food pantries around the time school lets out and the need surges because students no longer receive breakfast and lunch at school,” said Chuck Benfer, iHeartMedia Market President and founder of the long-running drive. “This year, COVID-19 made the need even greater. With kids out of school and many parents out of work for so many months, families began turning to food pantries for assistance earlier and more frequently than ever before and inventories were depleted quickly. We are incredibly grateful to the many shoppers and donors who gave so generously to Stuff-the-Bus,” added Benfer.
Buses donated by Gallagher Bus Service/Leprechaun Lines were loaded with contributions of non-perishable food items collected by radio personalities from iHeartMedia stations Country 107.3 WRWD, Q92, Z93, 96.1 KISSFM, and News Radio 1450 1370 98.5 WKIP, staff, and volunteers at three Stop & Shop locations. Other event supporters included Mental Health America of Dutchess County, The John Flowers Foundation, and the Claudio Cares Foundation.
The donations were shared with food pantries in Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster Counties. More than 150,000 pounds of food have been collected and distributed through Stuff-the-Bus since Catholic Charities began partnering with iHeartMedia in 2015.
“Catholic Charities is blessed to be the beneficiary of iHeartMedia’s Stuff-the-Bus event,” said Hector Morell, Director of Catholic Charities Social and Human Services. “We are grateful for this wonderful partnership and the donors who give so generously to help their neighbors who are struggling. We are stronger together.”
Those in need of emergency food assistance should contact Catholic Charities for additional information:
– Dutchess County: (845) 452-1400
– Orange County: (845)561-1665, Ext 1931
– Sullivan County: (845)794-8080, Ext 2870
– Ulster County: (845)340-9170, Ext 3000
Or contact the Regional Helpline at CCOSUhelpline@cccsos.org
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Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster, as one of the human service agencies of Catholic Charities of The Archdiocese of New York, is committed to building a compassionate and just society. Catholic Charities serves the homeless, the hungry, the emotionally and physically handicapped, immigrants, and the marginalized and vulnerable of Orange and Sullivan Counties. Catholic Charities collaborates with parishes, Catholic, and non-Catholic partners alike to help people of all religions who are in need. For more information, visit www.cccsos.org.
Cynthia Hernandez-Gonzalez, Catholic Charities Sullivan County Regional Supervisor, packed a van with non-perishable food donations to deliver to Sullivan County.
Catholic Charities Ulster County team, represented by Walter Gaceta, Shannon Kelly, Dulce Coyt, and Tyrone Cooper, helped unstuff the buses and deliver non-perishable food donations to Ulster County as part of iHeartMedia’s Summer Stuff-the-Bus Food Drive.
Julie Ubinas, Rosie Caceres, Hector Morell, and Mike Peters unstuffed one of the buses provided by Gallagher Bus/Leprechaun Lines for the Summer 2020 iHeartMedia Stuff-the-Bus Food Drive to benefit Catholic Charities.
