Santa Bus kicks off week-long transit food drive

THUNDER BAY -- Does this city have what it takes to stuff the Santa Bus?

Thunder Bay Transit is challenging its ridership and the community at large to donate enough canned goods to fill a festively-lit city bus named after the big red man of the season, himself.

The legend of the Santa Bus can be traced back 21 years to a bus operator who came to work dressed as Santa Claus to pass along Christmas cheer to his passengers. Over the years, it has evolved into a food drive for the local food bank.

For the next week, every city bus will be equipped with a donation bin for food with the ambition of filling the Santa Bus with donations on Dec. 14.

“Over the years, we keep growing and growing the amount we’re able to bring in,” said Thunder Bay Transit planning and marketing analyst Jon Hendel.

“We actually weigh the bus before and then weigh the bus after we do the fundraising. Each year we keep increasing and increasing. The demand is increasing as well so it’s great the community is stepping up.”

As for the Santa Bus, it won’t be running regular routes but it will be a symbol of inspiration and a mascot for its campaign over the week, running charter trips and shuttling for city events like the Tour of Lights.

Hendel said it has already made its first appearance to the joy of a special group of children.

“We were in the parade of lights on Saturday and we brought all the George Jeffrey Children’s Centre kids on the bus while we did the parade tour,” he said.

“We had Santa come on board and all of them were running up to santa going, ‘it’s too soon!’ But he explained to them how he enjoys taking transit and how it’s the most efficient way to get around Thunder Bay.”

The campaign will also be setting up camp over the weekend at Metro grocery stores on River and Arthur streets.