The Salvation Army, Al’s Supermarkets, Michigan City School Corporation, WEFM Radio, WIMS Radio, and First Trust Credit Union once again joined forces to hold their annual STUFF-A-BUS food drive on Saturday, September 14th. This year’s efforts marked the 16th year of the community coming together to help those in need, and results were OUTSTANDING. Dorene Martinson, Marketing Director at First Trust Credit Union, stated, “Credit unions are all about ‘People Helping People’ and as the organizer of this event every year, I want to thank the community once again for working together to make this a successful event for the Salvation Army.” Volunteers from the Salvation Army, and First Trust Credit Union employees and their family members joined Al’s employees encouraging grocery shoppers to purchase $5 meat vouchers, or pre-packaged bags of groceries for families in need.
These groceries were loaded in the school bus, at each Al’s location, that was provided by the Michigan City Area Schools. Live remotes from WEFM 95.9 FM and WIMS AM 1420 radio celebrities added to the overall excitement of the day. Jessica O’Brien, Development Director for the Salvation Army, stated, “Over 300 hungry families rely on the Michigan City Salvation Army food pantry to help stretch their food budget each and every month, and last month we actually served 400 families.” This year’s Stuff A Bus event yielded 10,570 pounds of food, 109 meat vouchers (valued at $5 each), and $270 in cash donations to fill those pantry shelves.Many people in the community came out to make donations, and the Al’s grocery stores will continue to sell meat vouchers and the few pre-packaged bags that were left to sell until they are gone. If you are a family in need and would benefit from the assistance available from the Salvation Army, you can call (219) 874-6885, or e-mail Majors Dale or Becky Simmons, head Administrators/Pastors, at: Dale.Simmons@usc.salvationarmy.org or Rebecca. Simmons@usc.salvationarmy.org
