Published: Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009

Updated: Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009

Manatee asked to ‘Stuff the Bus'

MANATEE — The Food Bank of Manatee distributed more than 2 million pounds of food to area residents in need last year.

Due to the declining economy, that number has already been surpassed this year. By the end of September, the food bank had given out 2.5 million pounds.

With 1.26 pounds of food equaling one meal, the food bank provided 1.5 million meals last year and, so far this year, has served more than 2 million meals, according to Kristen Theisen, director of development for the food bank operated by Meals on Wheels PLUS.

Supplies are running so low at the facility on 23rd Avenue East in Bradenton that a few local entities have decided to help.

The Manatee County School District, Publix Super Markets and The United Way of Manatee County will join together for a Stuff the Bus food drive at the end of this month.

A school bus will be stationed at each of the 14 Manatee County Publix stores Nov. 21 and 22. The community is being asked to drop off nonperishable food items, all going to the local food bank.

Streicher Mobile Fueling Inc., the company that supplies fuel to the district, is providing free gas for the buses to travel to the Publix locations and then transport the food to the food bank.

On those two dates, Publix plans on dropping the prices of some items to encourage shoppers to buy more and stuff the bus, said Tara Donovan, of the United Way of Manatee.

“The school board approached us ... with the economy as tough as it is right now, they wanted to do something to reach out to the community,” Donovan said. “Meals on Wheels Plus is one of our agencies and they are really suffering right now. We’re also especially excited this will take place the weekend before Thanksgiving.”

The school district is soliciting volunteers to man the bus posts.

Interested? Call Dorothy Braun at (941) 708-8800, ext. 1091, or Lori Cones at (941) 708-8800, ext. 1138.

“This is a great opportunity for the school district to work with Publix, the United Way and our community to help our neighbors here in Manatee County,” said Mike Barber, a school district spokesman. “This kind of cooperation and teamwork is especially important during these difficult economic times.”