13th DART Stuff The Bus Food Drive Nets A Record Setting 20.4 Tons Of Food For Needy Delawareans

Wilmington -- DART First State announced today that the thirteenth annual Stuff The Bus Thanksgiving Food Drive was a record setting one, collecting 20.4 tons (40,847 pounds) of food. The DART week-long food drive took place from November 9 to November 12 at Walmart in Milford, Acme in Dover, Acme in Fairfax Shopping Center, and Rodney Square in Wilmington. The Food Bank of Delaware will distribute the donated food through its more than 346 hunger relief partners to the Delaware residents in need.

The donations this year of non-perishable food filled three 30-foot buses. Donations were received from the general public, as well as businesses, schools, organizations, and state agencies throughout the entire State. The Pepsi Bottling Group made a very generous donation that helped set a new record. We collected 11,578 more pounds than in 2009, which was previously our best year. Again this year, DART partnered with WAFL 97.7 FM and WNCL 101.3 FM, which are part of the Delmarva Broadcasting Company. Thanks to staff and listeners of both radio stations, Stuff the Bus in Milford and Dover was a great success. Also thanks to the WJBR 99.5 FM staff and listeners who helped to fill the bus in Rodney Square.

DART First State is the bus, train, and intermodal transportation provider for Delaware. The Delaware Transit Corporation, a subsidiary of the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), operates DART First State. DART First State services include contracted SEPTA commuter trains, intercounty bus, fixed route bus, Paratransit, seasonal resort bus, commuter assistance, Operation Lifesaver rail crossing safety and trespasser awareness programs, and the RideShare Delaware ridematching program. DART First State provides more than 11,185,000 passenger trips annually, removing up to 7,034,591 vehicle trips from area roadways. In 2008, DART was recognized nationally with awards from the Federal Transit Administration for Enhancing Ridership programs and the American Public Transportation Association for first place in the annual Bus Roadeo.