'Stuff the Bus' drive nets 1,200 pounds of food

'Stuff the Bus' drive nets 1,200 pounds of food

November 13, 2001

By Aspen C. Emmett
Journal Staff Writer

Compassionate Cortez citizens "stuffed the bus" Saturday for less-fortunate families in the area, bringing in 1,200 pounds of non-perishable food to feed the hungry.

According to Cindy Allen, sales and office manager for KISZ Country 97.9 FM and KRTZ 98.7 FM, the day-long food drive at Wal-Mart was a huge success, in part because of the support local businesses lent the occasion.

Banks donated food and challenged other banks to do the same. Realtors out-donated other Realtors when they were called to task. And, of course, just about everyone who walked by the yellow schoolbus was compelled to drop off a can or two.

"Those people really gave of their time on a Saturday to donate food," Allen said. "You wouldn’t believe the cases of stuff that we got. Every seat on the bus had a full box of food — that’s a lot of food. It was so much fun."

Allen said the food drive was a good experience because people were thoughtful about their donations.

"Little bitty kids would come by the bus and they’d go in and do the shopping. Then they would bring their sack of food out that they shopped for — the parents would let them do the shopping. They (kids) would have to stop and think, ‘If I were hungry, what would I like?’"

Corporate sponsors including First National Bank of Cortez, Citizens State Bank, Pepsi and Wal-Mart made the fundraiser possible, Allen said. The radio station also pitched in by offering incentives.

"We said, ‘bring us a case of food and we’ll give you a cap’," Allen said.

The schoolbus to hold the food was courtesy of the Montezuma-Cortez School District, which also provided a driver.

"The school district donated their driver to bring the bus to Wal-Mart and then the driver took the bus to the Good Samaritan Center and helped us unload it," Allen said.

All 1,200 pounds of food will go to needy residents in Montezuma County.

"Stuff the bus" was also conducted in Farmington and Durango Saturday, bringing in a total of 4,405 pounds of food.

Allen said the drive’s success showed the giving spirit of the Four Corners.

"The weather was just beautiful and people came out in droves," Allen said. "It was just so much fun."