Throw out the people and chairs, Squamish Helping Hands Society is ready to stuff the bus with well, winter stuff.
The non-profit society is hosting its second annual "Stuff the Bus" charity drive on Wednesday (Oct. 12). At the centre of the event is one Landsea Tours' 24-passenger bus - minus the seats - which the organization hopes to fill with coats, hats, sleeping bags, underwear, food, gift cards and non-perishable food items, said Rick McKinney, the society's manager.
"The need has really, really increased," he said, noting that winter is getting set to roll in.
Helping Hands runs a 24/7 emergency shelter, daytime drop-in centre and a meal program. Currently, up to 60 people a day show up for dinner while the shelter is full, McKinney said.
"We are busy," he noted.
The society also operates the Brown Bag Lunch program for Squamish youth. The initiative provides 50 school-aged children with lunches. Kids can access the service through school counsellors or at the centre. The food is delivered in a discreet manner, so that other pupils won't know they are in the program, McKinney said. You can sponsor a child in the program for $40 a month.
All of the society's services require cash and resources, which is the purpose of the drive, he noted.
"Last year, we didn't quite stuff the bus," McKinney said.
He's hoping to see the doors almost pop off this time around. Capilano University faculty and students will be on hand to help pack stuff in. The bus will be parked outside Nesters Market.
For more information about the event call (604) 815-4984 or visit www.squamishhelpinghands.com.
