Stuff-A-Truck Celebrates 10 Years of Neighbors Helping Neighbors with 16.25 Tons of Food Collected and $10,000 in Cash Donations
BARRE, VT - It's a busy day at the Central Vermont Salvation Army Emergency Food Shelf on Keith Avenue in Barre. Captain's Kim and Travis Delong begin the daunting task of unloading, sorting and organizing Stuff-A-Truck donations onto the shelves in the basement of the Barre Salvation Army Corps building.
The truck got there just in time too, because the Emergency Food Shelf was out or running low on most of the items on the shelf.
Salvation Army Captain Travis Delong says that requests for help from families this year is up 60 percent, add to that, assistance given to help those affected by flooding in May and August and the Bellavance Stuff-A-Truck couldn't have come at a better time.
Frank-Fm, Afternoon Host and Program Director TJ Michaels says that in 10 years the total contribution to the Salvation Army has worked out to be 132 tons of food and $75,000. Michaels and Froggy 100.9 Breakfast Club host JD Green braved the elements with a handful of volunteers, members of the Vermont Army National Guard and The Boy and Girl Scouts at the Berlin Mall and broadcast live from the back of a Bellavance tractor trailer. The broadcast began Thursday morning at 5am and ran 24hours a day eventually ending Saturday at 3:30 with an emotional closing ceremony.
According to Green; “We live at the mall during this event, we don't go home and we go on an emotional roller coaster ride. Along with all the outpouring of support and goodwill, we hear very touching stories from the people who donate.”
For 10 years Stuff- A -Truck has allowed the Emergency food shelf to operate on no addition or very little funding, its something Michaels is very proud of. “Think about it, in however many days it takes to fill the truck we've dramatically changed the future of an organization that does so much in our communities.” He adds, “This event in 10 years, in my heart and in the hearts of many Central Vermonters has become the way we usher in the holiday spirit. It is exhausting work but in the end…It's all worth it!”
Stuff-A-Truck was presented this year with help from 802 Toyota Scion, National Life, Vermont Country Campers, North Country Federal Credit Union, Bellavance Trucking, The Vermont Army National Guard and Lenny's Shoe and Apparel.
For more information on Stuff-A-Truck, photos or audio call 802-476-4168, Email [email protected]
The 10th Anniversary of the Stuff-A-Truck Food and Funds Drive produced by Nassau Broadcasting Radio Stations; 107.1 Frank-fm, Froggy 100.9 and 1450 WSNO didn't disappoint supporters.
The Bellavance Tractor Trailer made it's way today from the Berlin Mall parking lot to a scale to be weighed and then on to the Salvation Army. In a little over 2 and a half days, Central Vermonters contributed 16.25 tons of canned goods and non perishables and $10,000 in financial assistance.
The truck got there just in time too, because the Emergency Food Shelf was out or running low on most of the items on the shelf.
Salvation Army Captain Travis Delong says that requests for help from families this year is up 60 percent, add to that, assistance given to help those affected by flooding in May and August and the Bellavance Stuff-A-Truck couldn't have come at a better time.
Frank-Fm, Afternoon Host and Program Director TJ Michaels says that in 10 years the total contribution to the Salvation Army has worked out to be 132 tons of food and $75,000. Michaels and Froggy 100.9 Breakfast Club host JD Green braved the elements with a handful of volunteers, members of the Vermont Army National Guard and The Boy and Girl Scouts at the Berlin Mall and broadcast live from the back of a Bellavance tractor trailer. The broadcast began Thursday morning at 5am and ran 24hours a day eventually ending Saturday at 3:30 with an emotional closing ceremony.
According to Green; “We live at the mall during this event, we don't go home and we go on an emotional roller coaster ride. Along with all the outpouring of support and goodwill, we hear very touching stories from the people who donate.”
For 10 years Stuff- A -Truck has allowed the Emergency food shelf to operate on no addition or very little funding, its something Michaels is very proud of. “Think about it, in however many days it takes to fill the truck we've dramatically changed the future of an organization that does so much in our communities.” He adds, “This event in 10 years, in my heart and in the hearts of many Central Vermonters has become the way we usher in the holiday spirit. It is exhausting work but in the end…It's all worth it!”
Stuff-A-Truck was presented this year with help from 802 Toyota Scion, National Life, Vermont Country Campers, North Country Federal Credit Union, Bellavance Trucking, The Vermont Army National Guard and Lenny's Shoe and Apparel.
For more information on Stuff-A-Truck, photos or audio call 802-476-4168, Email [email protected]