The 37th Annual Stuff-A-Bus Food Drive is October 18 through November 29
The 37th Annual Stuff-A-Bus food drive to benefit the Peoria Friendship House of Christian
Service officially begins on Friday, October 18 at 10:00 a.m. with a press conference at the
Kroger store location at 9219 N. Lindbergh Drive in Peoria. Representatives from CityLink, the
Peoria Friendship House and Kroger will be on hand to kick off the annual food drive. This
year, Stuff-A-Bus plans to outdo the success in 2023 and set a goal to reach a new record and
collect 12 tons of food onto the newly imagined ’vintage’ CityLink bus.
To mark the kickoff this year, there will be a live broadcast at the Kroger on Lindbergh from
Cumulus Radio station Z 92.3 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., encouraging listeners to stop by
the kickoff event and donate to Stuff-A-Bus. Additionally, cheerleaders from Coach Bre
Cottage Cheerleading & Dance Company will provide some extra enthusiasm to the event, and
there will be a special performance by the Manual High School Band Drumline immediately
following the press conference outside.
For the past 37 years, CityLink has hosted the Stuff-A-Bus food drive to help eliminate hunger
in Peoria. With a long partnership with Kroger to collect enough food to stuff a CityLink bus,
the donations collected during the annual food drive benefit the food pantry at the Peoria
Friendship House of Christian Service. In a year, the Peoria Friendship House food pantry
provides an average of 150,000 meals to those dealing with hunger in Peoria.
All Peoria Kroger stores are participating in this year’s Stuff-a-Bus campaign, which includes
the stores in Peoria located at 9219 Lindbergh Dr.; 801 W. Lake Ave.; and 3311 N. Sterling
Ave. The Kroger store in East Peoria, located at 201 S. Main St., is also participating. The
participating Kroger stores have donation displays available that include non-perishable food
items that are needed at the Peoria Friendship House food pantry. Shoppers can simply
purchase items from the displays or purchase food off the shelves and place the donations in
the bins located at the front of the stores.
The following businesses/organizations are also serving as drop off locations during the 2024
Stuff-A-Bus food drive:
· CityLink Administrative offices (2105 NE Jefferson Avenue, Peoria, IL 61603)
· East Peoria City Hall ( 401 West Washington Street, East Peoria, IL 61611)
· Jones Bros. Jewelers (7705 North Grand Prairie Drive, Peoria, IL 61615)
· Peoria Riverfront Museum (222 SW Washington Street, Peoria, IL 61602)
· West Peoria City Hall (2506 W. Rohmann Avenue, West Peoria, IL 61604)
· WMBD Studios (3131 N. University Street, Peoria, IL 61604)
· Corn Stock Theatre (1606 N. Park Road, Peoria, IL 61604)
Cumulus Radio, WYZZ Fox 43, WMBD CBS 31 and CIPROUD.com are media partners in this food
drive and will air public service announcements about the great need to collect enough
groceries to keep the Peoria Friendship House of Christian Service food pantry open all year
long. The Amalgamated Transit Union Local #416 is also a long-time participating sponsor of
Stuff-A-Bus.
The Peoria Friendship House of Christian Service was established in 1951 as a response to the
great need for assistance to individuals and families living in deep poverty. Peoria Friendship
House provides valuable services such as food, medical assistance, youth education, adult
education, employment preparation, and finance and employment coaching, while
encouraging lasting change for those it serves. Their Advocacy, Coaching, Education and
Support approach provides wrap-around services supported by short and long-term coaching
for both the Latino and English-speaking communities. The staff at the Peoria Friendship
House are dedicated to providing hope and guidance that offers a “hand-up” rather than
handout.
Peoria Friendship House forms collaborations with community partners to provide resources
outside of their agency. For further information on Peoria Friendship House programs, please
call 309-671-5200 or visit their website at www.friendship.house. The Peoria Friendship House
of Christian Service is proud to be a Heart of Illinois United Way Community Partner.
For the most up-to-date information on this year’s food drive, please “like” the Stuff-A-Bus
Facebook page at www.facebook.com/stuffabuspeoria.
RECOMMENDED FOOD DONATIONS
- Protein – Canned Meat, Beef Stew, Tuna, Canned Chili, Peanut Butter, Canned and Dried Beans
- Fruits & Vegetables – Canned Fruit, Canned Vegetables, Canned Soup, Fruit Juices, Jelly
- Carbohydrates – Pasta, Rice, Instant Potatoes, Macaroni & Cheese, Cereal, Pancake Mix, Oatmeal, Cake Mixes
- Dairy – Canned Milk, Instant Pudding
For questions regarding CityLink service, routes, and hours of operation, please call 309-676-4040.
