AVTA kicks off “Stuff-a-Bus” toy drive for kids

LANCASTER – The Antelope Valley Transit Authority on Monday kicked off its Stuff-a-Bus Holiday Toy Drive, an annual collection of toys and clothing for the AV community’s children.

The 27-year-old campaign, which runs through Sunday, Dec. 12, involves collecting enough unwrapped toys, clothing, and gifts (for children up to age 18) to fill a specially decorated all-electric 40-foot bus to the roof.

There will be two collection opportunities to donate to the Stuff-a-Bus campaign this year — the West Palmdale Walmart on Sunday, Dec. 5, and the West Lancaster Walmart on Sunday, Dec. 12. The Stuff-a-Bus campaign will be collecting gifts from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both days. A Stuff-a-Bus donation box is also located at the AVTA office, at 42210 6th Street West in Lancaster.

AVTA works with local charities to collect and distribute all toy and gift donations. Participating 2021 charities are the Marco & Sandra Johnson Foundation, the Children’s Bureau, Antelope Valley Partners for Health, the Child and Family Guidance Center, Grace Resource Center, and the South Antelope Valley Emergency Services of Palmdale (SAVES).

One hundred percent of donations will be distributed at the Holiday Drive-Thru Grocery and Toy Giveaway at AVTA on Dec. 18. Registration is not required, and the event is open to all Antelope Valley Residents. Local families will receive Christmas meal supplies as well as toys and gifts for their children.

Nearly 25 businesses helped AVTA to raise more than $25,000 to help purchase toys and gifts for the holiday drive.

“The generosity of our major sponsors, such as Duke Engineering, BYD Motors, Transdev, WAVE/Ideanomics, DP Commercial Services, Mission Bank, High Desert Medical Group, OpSec Security and MCI/New Flyer makes a huge impact in the lives of many local families,” said AVTA Board Chairman Marvin Crist. “We also want to thank Avail Technologies, AV Transportation Services, Complete Coach Works, Kaiser Permanente, Granite Construction, Palmdale Elementary Teachers Association, AVEDGE, and The Weideman Group, whose contributions will help make AVTA’s Stuff-a-Bus a huge success.”

“The key to our success is our staff, volunteers, local residents, and sponsors, all working together with the goal of helping kids,” Crist added.

[Information via news release from the Antelope Valley Transit Authority.]

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