BEDFORD — Tomorrow, Lawrence County will have the chance to do something extraordinary — something that could change a neighbor’s week, a child’s night, or a family’s entire holiday season. The annual “Stuff A Bus for L.I.F.E.” food drive, hosted by WQRK Classic Hits 105.5, WBIW 1340 AM, and LiteFM 102.5, kicks off tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 22, and the need this year is more pressing than ever.
For many families, the difference between going to bed hungry and sitting down to a full meal comes down to the kindness of strangers willing to give. With holiday demand already surging, the items L.I.F.E. need most are the everyday essentials most of us take for granted.
Pantry staff say they are urgently seeking canned meats, flour, sugar, macaroni and cheese, coffee, tea, canned fruit, dish detergent, toilet paper, and other basic staples. Residents are encouraged to bring nonperishables from home. One necessary step that the donors often overlook is checking expiration dates before donating. If you don’t have extra in your pantry, you are encouraged to pick up a few items as you shop for yourself. You can always make a cash or check contribution if you are short on time. Every can, every box, every single dollar directly affects how many families can be fed in the coming weeks.
The pantry can accept anything purchased at a grocery store, including refrigerated and frozen goods donations. The pantry also stresses that they need plastic bags so volunteers can use them to package groceries for clients and to carry those items home. Many clients come on foot or ride a bike and it’s a challenge to get items home sometimes without something to put them.
For more than 30 years, WQRK Classic Hits 105.5, WBIW 1340 AM, and LiteFM 102.5 have taken on this effort as one of the most meaningful traditions they share with the community. Rogers Group Inc. returns this year as a community partner of the stations, helping raise awareness and reminding residents what a united local effort can accomplish.
You can donate at the bus in front of JayC Plus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2631 W 16th Street in Bedford.
