REDDING, Calif. — As our 30th annual Stuff the Bus food drive approaches, the Salvation Army is experiencing an increase in demand for assistance, largely due to higher grocery prices.
Major Tammy Ray, a core officer at the Salvation Army, said, “People that haven’t ever needed to come into the Salvation Army or it’s been years and years since they have had to come and access food are coming, cause we’re all feeling the crunch at the grocery store and the cost of food is just becoming really difficult and you know we’re having to choose. Am I going to put gas in the car this week and go to work or am I going to buy meat?”
To address the growing need, the organization has adjusted its operations. Essentials like bread can be picked up weekly, but families are limited to receiving a full food box once a month. Ray highlighted the need for protein-rich foods, noting that while they receive many items like vegetables and noodles, protein is essential for making a meal.
In previous years, the Stuff the Bus drive collected around 12,000 pounds of food, but last year donations were only half of that. The Salvation Army is hopeful for an increase in contributions this year. A list of locations for non-perishable donations can be found here.
We also encourage the community to join us on Friday, May 2nd from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for our 12-hour two-city live marathon food drive at the Les Schwab Tire Center at 1201 Hilltop Drive in Redding or the Les Schwab Tire Center at 201 W. East Avenue in Chico and help us as we try to stuff a RABA and B-Line bus with your donations.
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