"Since 1997 food bank use in Nova Scotia has increased 46%"

The 15th annual Stuff-A-Bus Food Drive Campaign was, once again, a huge success!

Local 508 and Metro Transit volunteers collected over 18,000 kg’s of food (that’s five buses full) and $2,100 in cash for Feed Nova Scotia.

This year’s count surpasses 2004 by over 4,000 kg’s!

Your kindness and generosity touched many, many lives throughout Nova Scotia:

• Total number of people using food banks in March 2005 – 25,453 (+7.6% from 2004)
• Total number of children using food banks in Nova Scotia – 8,361
• Percentage of working poor – 7.5% (3rd largest recipient group)
• Percentage of persons with disabilities – 11% (2nd largest recipient group)
• Percentage of people on income assistance – 62% (largest recipient group)
• Approximately 2/3 of food bank recipients are a combination of single people (31%) and single parents (34%)

A special thank you and fond farewell to Jim Bartlett, retiring in January 2006, who had the idea of giving back to his community during the Holiday Season 15 years ago – a tradition that will continue for year’s to come.

To Mr. Santa Claus, Bob Keeping, also retiring in 2006, for giving toddlers and children the spirit of giving through his sincere affection and encouraging words.

A note of thanks to Ed (Cuddles) Criddle for his hard work and dedication to the campaign. Thank you to Bill Sampson, Fred Bowdridge & Tom McDouguall for being great Santa’s. Marlinda Mooney, Judy Nawijin & Bonnie Nickelson for donning Mrs. Claus outfits and Linda Supple for being Santa’s best little helper ever!

A sincere thank you to all the volunteers for their time, enthusiasm and commitment, year after year, to such a worthy cause.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the campaign through casual day and food & cash donations!

Happy Holidays!

Stuff-A-Bus Sponsors:

C100 FM

The Amalgamated Transit Union (local 508)

Metro Transit