DART’s Stuff the Bus Food Drive and the Food Bank of Delaware have announced the start of their Thanksgiving food drives.
With 45 days to go, two of Delaware’s biggest Thanksgiving food drives have kicked off.
The Food Bank of Delaware and DART’s Stuff the Bus announced the details of their drives Monday.
The Food Bank said it expects demand for Thanksgiving food to be high this year because of the costs of inflation and threats of recession.
“More than 100,000 of our Delaware neighbors have difficulties affording food,” said Cathy Kanefsky, CEO of the Food Bank. “No family deserves to go without a hot holiday meal. Our community can help us bring hope this season by hosting an in-person food drive or an online fundraiser to help us purchase food. Together, we can all brighten the holiday season for our neighbors in need.”
The 2022 Thanksgiving Stuff the Bus campaign hopes to raise 25 tons of food for the Food Bank. It asks shoppers to help fill buses at grocery stores around the state.’
Why Thanksgiving food drives?
According to the Delaware Authority for Regional Transport:
More than 112,000 Delawareans, including more than 38,600 children, are food insecure.
Delaware’s child food insecurity rate is 19%, which is a 2% increase from last year.
The Senior Nutrition Program distributed 18,410 meals to over of 2,200 low-income seniors every month.
The Backpack Program provided more than 172,270 bags of food to 5,500 kids during the 2021-2022 school year.
The School Pantry Program stocks 46 in-school food pantries and has distributed 128,773 pounds of food.
Food meant to be distributed at Thanksgiving should be delivered to the Food Bank by Thursday, Nov. 10.
Items delivered after that will be distributed during the rest of the holiday season.
The Food Bank program
The Food Bank invites donors to support the Thanksgiving drive by hosting an online fundraiser or by hosting an in-person food drive.
An online food fundraiser raises money for the Food Bank to purchase items that are most in need. For every dollar donated, the Food Bank of Delaware can provide three meals to Delawareans in need, according to a press release, because of its buying power.
Individuals and businesses interested in conducting physical food drives may use their own boxes or pick up cardboard collection barrels from the Food Bank. Donations should be delivered to the Food Bank of Delaware in Newark at 222 Lake Drive or and Milford at 1040 Mattlind Way on Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Food Bank said it needs these items most:
Applesauce
Cranberry sauce
Oatmeal
Cold cereals
Pudding mix
Canned pumpkin
Graham cracker pie crust
Canned gravy
Rice
Macaroni and cheese
Mashed potatoes
Stuffing
Hearty soups
Corn muffin mix
Canned sweet potatoes and yams
Canned peas and green beans
100% fruit juice
Hot chocolate
Coffee and tea
Evaporated milk
Turkey pans
Frozen turkeys (must be dropped off to Newark or Milford warehouses).
DART will be marking its 25th year of collecting food with this year’s Nov. 7-12 event.
“It’s a wonderful example of how DelDOT gives back to the state we serve,” said Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski in a press release. “I am especially grateful to the numerous DelDOT and DART employees who have supported the Food Bank over the past several years with three added COVID-relief Stuff the Bus events and the numerous mobile pantry events held across the state as demand grew through the pandemic.
“I’m proud to say that DART’s Stuff The Bus is making an impact,” said John Sisson, CEO of Delaware Transit Corp. “Since the beginning in 1998, DART has collected 264 tons of food, that’s 528,000 pounds.”
Find the buses here:
Monday, Nov. 7, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Safeway, 19283 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach
Walmart, at 705 Middletown Warwick Road, Middletown, a new Stuff the Bus location.
Tuesday, Nov. 8, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Walmart, 939 N. DuPont Blvd., Milford
Safeway, 190 John Hunn Brown Road, Dover
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
ShopRite of First State Plaza, 1600 W. Newport Pike, Stanton
Walmart, Sussex Plaza Shopping Center, 22899 Sussex Highway, Seaford , a new Stuff the Bus location
Thursday, Nov. 10, 7 a.m. -5 p.m.
Rodney Square, Market Street side, Wilmington
Friday, Nov. 11, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
ShopRite of Brandywine Commons, 1300 Rocky Run Parkway, Wilmington
ShopRite of Four Seasons, 700 Plaza Drive, Newark
DART said it is seeking
Cornflakes
Cheerios
Oatmeal
Raisin Bran
Rice (white or brown)
Evaporated milk
Coffee/tea bags
Applesauce
Pancake mix
Macaroni & cheese
Spaghetti sauce
Pasta
Beef stew
Peanut butter
Canned tuna (in water)
Canned salmon
Canned chicken
Pork & beans
Canned sweet potatoes
Instant mashed potatoes
Canned pumpkin
Canned gravy
100% fruit/vegetable juice
Corn muffin mix
Canned beans
Dry beans
Soup/stews
Canned vegetables
Canned fruit
Cooking/vegetable oils
Granola bars
Laundry detergents
Paper products
Diapers
Personal care
Pet food
DART notes that the Food Bank cannot accept hard candy, lollipops, soda in cans and bottles, chocolate bars or pieces, gum and soft candy such as marshmallows.
For “Stuff The Bus” 2022 information, go to www.DartFirstState.com or call 1-800-652-DART.
More campaigns
Caroling on the Circle: Sussex County will mount its traditional collection of canned food as part of its Dec. 5 Caroling on the Circle. The drive asks county residents to “Pack the Pod” – a 14-foot by 7-foot portable storage shed set up at The Circle – with food items for local food pantries. Since the drive began in the 1980s, it has collected 775,000 items. Donations can be dropped off starting now through the end of December.
WSFS Fall Food Drive: WSFS will accept nonperishable food items at their branch offices through Dec. 31 in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
