BUGBEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HOSTS FIRST LOCAL FILL-A-BUS EVENT Food Drive to Provide Significant Donation for West Hartford Food Panty

WEST HARTFORD, CT. May 29, 2014–Students at Lloyd H. Bugbee Elementary School in West Hartford will host the region’s first-ever Fill-A-Bus event on June 6, 2014, with the goal of filling a school bus with food to fight hunger in our local community.  The donations will help the West Hartford Food Pantry during the spring and summer months when donations tend to slow; leaving the Pantry shelves depleted.

The event teaches the students an important lesson about “Food Insecurity” or not knowing the certainty of your next meal.  "We have been engaging in conversations about how families in West Hartford sometimes need support with providing food and nutrition to their households.  We're so proud that our Bugbee students and our community are working to be part of the greater good by generously donating food to 'Fill-A-Bus',” said Noam Sturm, Principal of Bugbee School.  “As that expression goes, ‘hunger doesn't take a break’, and the whole Bugbee family is showing how much we care for our fellow residents by taking a leadership role in creating awareness, setting up Food Drive Stands, and helping to sort and load our bus - all wonderful ways to have them actively involved in understanding the needs that exist around us."

The timing of the event is critical as the Food Pantry’s needs often rise during the summer, while contributions tend to decrease.  Many parents find these months particularly stressful as children who enjoy healthy cafeteria breakfasts and lunches throughout the school year are now at home.  This means that parents must use their limited income to provide more meals for their children during this time.

 “The Department of Human and Leisure Services is very grateful to Bugbee School for initiating this creative way for the entire school community to come together to help residents in need. We are inspired by Bugbee’s community spirit,” said Suzanne Oslander, Community Partnerships Manager for the Department of Human and Leisure Services.  The Town That Cares Food Pantry assists over 700 households annually. Last year over 4,500 bags of food were distributed from the emergency pantry at Town Hall, and additional food was distributed at the Thanksgiving Distribution and to several low-income senior housing and neighborhood sites in town. The Pantry relies on food and monetary donations from the community to assist the town’s most vulnerable residents.

The filling of the bus will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the school, located at 1943 Asylum Avenue in West Hartford.  For more information, please contact Marie McNamara at 860-306-9795.