Stuff-A-Bus collects holiday gifts

The bus perplexed 4-year-old Anna Thommpson.

It wasn’t moving. It wasn’t yellow. And a stuffed snowman sat in the driver’s seat.
But as she climbed into it to hand over her donation to the “Stuff-A-Bus,” she was all smiles. Anna’s mom, Erin, had explained the toy was going to another little girl, just like Anna.

The Thompsons are one of many families donating to Stuff-A-Bus, an annual holiday charity that gathers clothes and toys for local children. The event is sponsored by Bloomington Transit, the Salvation Army and radio station WCLS 97.7 FM.

The bus was unveiled in November at the downtown Bloomington Canopy of Lights Celebration. It spends December traveling to different shopping centers like Walmart, K-Mart and Sam’s Club to collect donations.

“Some people seek us out actively, and others just see the bus, figure out what it’s all about and just pick up a donation while they’re shopping,” said Brenda Underwood, human resources director at Bloomington Transit.

Underwood said she is especially passionate about this charity because of its local focus. All items are distributed to children only in Monroe County whose families have been pre-approved by the Salvation Army.

“I think about my son, when he was little, and he probably had about five pairs of gloves,” Underwood said. “And to think there are kids right here in our community who don’t have gloves or warm clothes...It’s just important that we do something about it.”
Once the donations are collected, the parents of the pre-approved families receive the items directly.

“That way, the kids never know that their gifts came from charity,” said Melissa Heatwole, a Salvation Army employee working at Stuff-A-Bus on Saturday. “We don’t want them to feel different than any other kid.”

Last holiday season, Stuff-A-Bus gathered the most items in its 12-year history. More than 4,000 new toys, coats, hats, gloves and mittens were collected. Underwood said she hopes the community will be as generous this year.

The Stuff-A-Bus will collect from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at TJ Maxx. On Thursday, the bus will visit K-Mart West and on Friday, it will park at the Wonderlab Museum of Health, Science and Technology.

To see a full schedule of bus stops, visit bloomingtontransit.com.