November 15, 2016
Press Releases
The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) is asking the public to help make sure no Rhode Islanders go hungry this holiday season by taking part in a marathon food drive this weekend at three Ocean Job Lot locations across the state. RIPTA is partnering with Ocean State Job Lot and iHeartMedia Inc. for a 33-hour Stuff a Bus Food–A-Thon to benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. The food drive will begin at 6 a.m. Friday, November 18th, and continue through 3 p.m. Saturday, November 19th. RIPTA will have buses parked at three Ocean State Job Lot stores and the public is invited to help fill the buses chock full of nonperishable food items such as canned goods and cereal. The radio stations will be broadcasting live from the store locations in Johnston, Coventry and North Kingstown and donations will be collected around the clock.
STUFF A BUS FOOD-A-THON LOCATIONS
Stop by any of these Ocean State Job Lot locations
beginning at 6AM Friday, November 18 through Saturday, November 19 at 3PM:
1173 Tiogue Avenue, Coventry, RI
5957 Post Road, North Kingstown, RI
1493 Hartford Avenue, Johnston, RI
“This is RIPTA’s fifth annual holiday food drive and thanks to our partners it is our biggest effort yet,” said Barbara Polichetti, Director of Public Affairs for RIPTA. “Earlier this month, Rhode Island Community Food Bank officials reminded the public of their need for donations at this time of year and we really hope that this event will go a long way in helping them and the Rhode Islanders they serve,” Polichetti said. “Ocean State Job Lot is known for its ongoing efforts to combat hunger and with iHeartMedia on board as well, we couldn’t ask for more enthusiastic partners.”
The food bank is in need of the following items in particular:
- Tuna
- Canned and dried beans
- Brown rice
- Canned soups & stews
- Peanut butter
- Breakfast cereals
- Whole wheat pasta
- Canned fruits & vegetables
At last year’s Stuff a Bus food drive, RIPTA collected 1,050 pounds of food and $410 in donations. Every dollar enables the Rhode Island Community Food Bank to acquire 3 pounds of healthy food. So in total, the 2015 food drive resulted in 2,280 pounds of food for Rhode Islanders in need. The Rhode Island Community Food bank estimates that it serves 59,000 Rhode Islanders every month, and of that total one third are children and one fifth are senior citizens.
For more information on schedules or other RIPTA services, please call 781-9400 or visit RIPTA.com.