Santa made a special delivery to a local food bank over the weekend.
For the past 18 years Thunder Bay Transit has been touring the city during the holiday season for its Santa Bus Food Drive. Green bins are set up in city buses so that riders can make food donations. The bus also makes trips to local businesses. On Saturday morning the decorated bus cruised up to the Thunder Bay Food Bank with more than 2,500 pounds of food, a record for the drive.
“There’s no room for people, it’s packed, it’s unbelievable how this community stepped up,” transit marketing analyst Jon Hendel said, adding he was moved by the community’s generosity.
The record couldn’t have been set at a better time as the local food bank just saw a record amount of people this past Tuesday. In a two hour period, more than 470 people showed up for food.
“It speaks to the need of the community, which is sad,” food bank board member Mike McLeod said.
Seeing the bus roll up was an incredible experience.
“We’re very thankful. It’s a wonderful wonderful thing to get a donation like this,” he said. “This makes a world of difference to us and especially the clients that we serve… it’s hard to get the smile of my face today.”
