THUNDER BAY -- Even though Christmas morning is still about two weeks Santa Claus made a special visit to a city food bank, though he did not land on the roof with his reindeer crew.
Instead he arrived on board a city bus.
Members of Thunder Bay Transit and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 966 made a special delivery to the Thunder Bay Food Bank on Saturday morning, dropping off their Santa Bus which was packed full with 6,500 pounds of non-perishable food goods.
“It’s incredible. This is almost three times the amount we’ve received in previous years,” said Mike McLeod, a member of the food bank’s board of directors.
“I’m beaming. I’m so happy.”
This marked the 20th year transit employees have held the annual Santa Bus campaign, with one of the biggest hauls they have ever amassed. Last year’s collection yielded about 2,500 pounds.
Over the past week all city buses carried bins to accept donations riders. The Santa Bus, which sported bright lights and other festive decorations, set up shop outside the Metro location on River Street where donations were collected.
Local union president Sheila Kivisto said the partnership has been an important one for city transit and the members.
“This time of year especially we want to be able to help,” Kivisto said. “We want to make sure everybody has the opportunity to have the food they need.”
Michael Sochackey, along with his family, has been involved in the Santa Bus drive for the past number of years. He helped originally decorate the bus for last weekend’s Parade of Lights, collected donations and helped unload at the food bank.
To see such an increase in the success of the campaign made all the work worthwhile.
“To more than double what we had last year and know we’re giving so much back to the community is great,” he said.
The donations are particularly timely as food bank usage is on the rise.
“Our numbers go up every week that we operate and we’re not alone in that,” McLeod said.
