University News

Stuff the Bus 2010 on the WIU-Macomb campus. Photo by WIU Visual Production Center
[Download Print-Quality Image]

The Stuff the Bus 2011 food drive at Western Illinois University is slated for Wednesday, Nov. 9. You can RSVP on Facebook via the "Sodexo Dining Center at Western Illinois University" event at www.facebook.com/
event.php?eid=263887550319290.
[Download Print-Quality Image]

Stuff the Bus 2011 Nov. 9 at WIU: Sodexo Calling for Food Donations

November 4, 2011

Share |
Printer friendly version

MACOMB, IL – The goal: 10,000+ lbs. of food all "stuffed" on a bus to contribute to Helping Hands Across America's food drive, which helps local individuals in need. To reach that five-ton-plus mark, members of the Western Illinois University, Macomb and surrounding communities are asked to contribute by simply dropping a food donation in a conveniently located "Stuff the Bus 2011" box. The boxes are placed in various buildings on WIU's Macomb campus, as well as at various businesses in Macomb.

Stuff the Bus 2011 is sponsored by Sodexo Campus Services at WIU, and from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, all the food collected—from the donation boxes, as well as from Sodexo's "Trick the Town" part of the food-drive event (held in October)—will be stuffed on a Go West Bus parked in front of Sherman Hall. This is the sixth year Sodexo has organized Western's part in this Helping Hands Across America event and the fourth year Sodexo has implemented it with the "Stuff the Bus" theme. This year the donations will go toward three great local causes, noted Eva Galbraith, marketing manager for Sodexo Campus Services at WIU.

"The Resident Assistant Council at WIU needs groceries to prepare the annual Macomb's Salvation Army Thanksgiving dinner, and Western's Black Student Association works with local organizations to compile a list of local families in need and then assembles astounding Thanksgiving baskets, complete with turkeys and all the fixings, to create a wonderful Thanksgiving feast that every family should be able to gather around the table for. The remainder of the food will be donated to Macomb's own Loaves and Fishes Etc., food pantry," she explained.

On Nov. 9, Galbraith said Sodexo will have several donation locations set up around Macomb, and student volunteers will be located at the entrances of Walmart, HyVee, County Market, Jackson Street Market, the Court House Square, as well as at Sherman Circle to collect donations, which can be food and/or monetary.

Community members can drop off food donations on Nov. 9 during the following hours at the businesses listed below:

  • 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Walmart
  • 7 a.m.-10 p.m. HyVee
  • 8 a.m.-10 p.m. County Market
  • 7 a.m- 5 p.m. Sherman Circle (in front of Sherman Hall, WIU-Macomb campus)
  • 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Jackson Street Market

"Also, through Nov. 9, members of the community can purchase 'Helping Hands Bags' at Walmart and HyVee. These bags already have items needed for the Thanksgiving baskets. All a person needs to do is select the bag from the store display, take it to the checkout and drop it off in the collection basket. Student volunteers will take care of the rest," she said. "For donations made on the WIU campus, a shopping cart team can be dispatched to pick up donations. Interested campus offices or personnel can contact us at Sodexo to schedule a shopping cart pick up of the food donations in their building(s)."

Galbraith noted that since Sodexo started taking part in the Helping Hands Across America food drive, members of the WIU, Macomb, and surrounding local communities have donated more than 50,000 pounds of food for local use.

"Students living on campus also play an active role in volunteering and donating to help those in need in the area. Students who live in residence halls compete via their floors. The residents who collect the most food will win a pizza party for their entire floor. Students can bring their donations to the dining centers on campus, as well. A special trophy is being donated to the 'Best of the West,' which is a friendly competition pitting Higgins Hall against Thompson Hall for the most donations," Galbraith added.

For more information, contact Galbraith at (309) 298-1982 or eva.galbraith@sodexo.com, or visit Sodexo Dining Center at Western Illinois University on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sodexodining.wiu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing