First Photo (group, left to right):  (Back row) Pam Wilson and Kathy Keas of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Bus Operators Association; McKinley High School Key Club students Tasha Rogers, Chelsea Smith, Taylor Morrison and Jacob Jordan; McKinley High School volunteer Lance Bowers; bus attendant Corine Reese; and (front row) Demond Thomas and Reese Thomas (Reese’s grandchildren).

Second Photo (left to right):  Tasha Rogers and Chelsea Smith jumped for joy during the Stuff the Bus food drive at Neighbors Federal Credit Union’s Goodwood Branch last Friday.  They created mini cheers to get bank patrons excited about donating items and funds to the Food Bank

McKinley High School students from the Key Club shook bus-shaped signs at passing cars on Friday, March 19, for the East Baton Rouge Parish School Bus Operators Association’s Stuff the Bus for the Food Bank Drive.  Intercepting passers-by and those entering and exiting the Neighbors Federal Credit Union (NFCU) Goodwood Branch, a few students even did some cheers.  In the background, bus driver Pam Wilson used a bullhorn to catch the stragglers and hit them up for donations.

Their determination worked.  As of Friday afternoon, a total $3,794-plus was collected from the effort.  That includes $700 raised by NFCU staff and a $500 donation by NFCU.  But even now, money is still coming in from schools and other donors.

In addition, about 4,328 pounds of non-perishable food was collected for the Food Bank.  Much of it came from area schools that held their own food drives for the cause.  The food will equal to about 5,770 meals for those in need.  Cash or boxed/canned food items will be sent to the Food Bank to serve those in need in Baton Rouge, Zachary and Baker.

Last year, enough money was collected to cover the entire school bus’ exterior almost twice with “fake dollar bills” – a total of about $5,000.  This well exceeded the original goal of $2,114 and included a $500 donation from NFCU.  The crew collected about 2,881 pounds of food in total.

Every dollar donated can purchase enough food to feed 10 people.  As a non-profit organization, the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank provides food to more than 120 charitable agencies without charge, serves 11 parishes and helps about 7,300 people each day through its network.  In 2007, the Food Bank distributed more than 10.8 million pounds of food.  About 94 percent of its food is donated and distributed with the help of thousands of volunteers.

For more information on how to make a donation or get involved, contact Pam Wilson of the School Bus Operators Association at (225) 262-4572 or (225) 921-5181 or Ann Erie with NFCU at (225) 819-5748 or the Food Bank at (225) 359-9940.