Delaware Transit Corporation announced that DART’s 26th annual “Stuff The Bus” Thanksgiving Food Drive collected 10.5 tons (21,000 pounds) of food. The week-long food drive took place from Nov. 6 to 11 at the Safeway stores in Rehoboth and Dover, Milford Walmart, Rodney Square in Wilmington, and the ShopRite stores at Chestnut Hill Plaza, First State Plaza, Brandywine Commons and Four Seasons Shopping Centers.
John Sisson, DTC’s CEO, stated “This was our 26th year of “Stuff The Bus” and I’m proud of the DTC, DelDOT and DMV employees, business partners, bus riders, and the community, whose generous donations will help out their fellow Delawareans in need of food assistance.”
Donations were received from the general public, as well as businesses, schools, organizations and state agencies throughout Delaware, including the employees from DART, DelDOT, DMV and the state Toll Plazas. Partners included propane supplier. Sharp Energy, which donated $5,000 worth of food. Sharp Energy’s donation that was loaded onto a DART propane autogas paratransit bus.
Media sponsor was Forever Media’s radio stations in the state, including flagship station WSTW.
Non profits can register for Do More 24
Do More 24 Delaware, the state’s 24-hour charitable giving event, launched registration for its 2024 event.
Organized jointly by United Way of Delaware (UWDE) and Spur Impact, the 24-hour fundraising marathon — will be held March 7-8, 2024.
During the event, donors give online at DoMore24Delaware.org and registered nonprofits have the chance to earn matching gifts, cash prizes, and grants donated by sponsors from across the state.
The 2023 event generated more than 17,000 individual donations, raising more than $2.3 million for more than 520 nonprofits statewide. Since the March 2020 event, when UWDE and Spur Impact joined forces, Do More 24 Delaware has raised more than $7.2 million for the nonprofits of Delaware.
All 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving Delaware are eligible and encouraged to register at www.domore24delaware.org.
In 2023, Do More 24 Delaware was supported by more than 25 sponsor organizations who donated a combined $600,000. Organizations interested in sponsoring this year’s event are encouraged to reach out to team@domore24de.org.
Courtyard’s Adopt a Family event
The Courtyard by Marriott Newark – University of Delaware held an adopt-a-family event organized by three of its University of Delaware Hospitality Business Management students.
Students Sofia Valastro, Hannah Scheck, and Samantha Urspruch were able to gain support from University of Delaware Greek Life organizations as well as local churches and schools to collect food and cash donations to offer 10 local families a basket filled with Thanksgiving meal items. Families received their baskets on Nov. 13.
Located on the University of Delaware’s Laird Campus, the Courtyard by Marriott Newark – University of Delaware opened in 2004 in conjunction with the University of Delaware’s Hospitality Business Management program. The hotel is the training facility for the Lodging Module, a hands-on experiential training program for hotel property service and operations management. Approximately 3,000 students have been part of the program.
Thanksgiving for Thousands
Chicken processor Mountaire hosted their annual Thanksgiving for Thousands events at its North Carolina and Delmarva locations in mid-November. On Delmarva 14,000 complete meals, with chicken, were assembled and distributed at their Selbyville distribution center. Volunteers pack and distribute the meals.
Mountaire is headquartered in Selbyville and is owned by an Arkansas family.
M&T donates $10,000 to St. Patrick’s Center
M&T Bank provided a charitable donation of $10,000 to St. Patrick’s Center to further support its mission to provide emergency groceries, hot breakfast, access to social workers, showers, clothing, and senior transportation for people in Wilmington.
Due to rising food costs and elimination of emergency SNAP benefits started during Covid, St. Patrick’s Center currently serves more than 300 people per day through their emergency food program, an increase of 114 % from this time last year.
M&T is also hosting a food drive now through December 14, collecting items such as soups, oatmeal, pasta, coffee and much more—all donations will directly benefit the St. Patrick’s Center.
(Send news of your holiday donations to drainey@delawarebusinessnow.com)
