THE SAN JOAQUIN REGIONAL TRANSIT DISTRICT, also known as RTD, hosted its 27th annual Stuff the Bus food drive last weekend, aiming to collect donations for the Stockton Emergency Food Bank.
Amid uncertainties with the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and rising food costs, the three-day event was held at the Food 4 Less at 255 E. March Lane in Stockton. Organizers gathered bus-loads of non-perishable food items, with additional turkeys and ongoing contributions from community partners.
Stuff the Bus has been a Stockton tradition since 1998, collecting more than 230 tons of food over the years to support families in need through the emergency food bank. Typically held the Friday through Sunday before Thanksgiving, this year’s drive has been expanded to address heightened demand.
“We kicked it off with (the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s) office, and they held an internal food drive at their location,” said RTD public information officer Maximilian Cao. “And after about a week or two weeks or so of efforts, they managed to collect 1,340 pounds of food.”
The extension comes in response to recent disruptions in SNAP, caused by a federal government shutdown. Although the government has reopened, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has directed states to revise SNAP guidelines, which could reduce or eliminate benefits for thousands in San Joaquin County.
Combined with increasing food prices, this has strained local resources.
“There’s an uncertainty with the SNAP benefits during the government shutdown, and now that the government has reopened, we have heard from the USDA office that they have given every state directive to create new guidance,” said Cao. “That will change the status of SNAP benefits for many or millions of people in America, which could essentially affect thousands of people here in San Joaquin County.”
Partnerships boost collection effort
To bolster collections, RTD partnered with several organizations. Community Medical Centers and the City of Stockton libraries began their own food drives last week, with RTD scheduled to collect donations from those sites on Dec. 12.
Turkeys have been a key focus, with at least eight received so far and more expected. A standout contribution came from Anne Garcia, a kindergarten teacher in Lodi, who rallied her neighborhood to gather approximately 3,800 pounds of turkeys.
Alessia Pichler, community relations manager at the Stockton Emergency Food Bank, was on-site Friday and Saturday, and praised the turnout.
“People tend to look down upon Stockton a lot, but see the response from the community yesterday and today, there is good in this community, and they do support their nonprofits,” said Pickler. “For me, to see the outpouring of donations from people who are working and maybe struggling themselves to give back to the food bank, it just really makes me feel good to work and to be here in Stockton.”
Recent arrivals Patricia and Dwayne Hives, Stockton residents originally from the Bay Area, donated a 13-pound turkey and stuffing.
“For me, I personally know what it’s like to be without this support, so we’re in a better position to give and to help other people,” said Patricia Hives. She expressed frustration over the SNAP disruptions.
“For me, to see the outpouring of donations … it just really makes me feel good to work and to be here in Stockton.”
Alessia Pichler, Stockton Emergency Food Bank
“Holding people’s food hostage because you can’t make a decision? You went after the poor, not the rich.”
The food bank, which faced dwindling supplies earlier this month due to SNAP issues, is using the donations to prepare for distributions. A major giveaway took place Tuesday at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, providing turkeys along with fixings like mashed potatoes, gravy and vegetables.
The Stockton Emergency Food Pantry on West Scott Avenue will be closed Thanksgiving Day and Friday, but open Tuesday and Wednesday for regular food distribution. On Thanksgiving Day, the food bank will host its Run and Walk Against Hunger event.
This story originally appeared in Stocktonia.
