Santa Claus has again traded in his reindeer-drawn sleigh for a Thunder Bay Transit bus.
The 17th annual Santa Bus Food Drive kicked off its seasonal fundraiser this week. Organized by the Thunder Bay Transit and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 966, the drive raised more than 1,300 pounds of food last year for the Thunder Bay Food Bank.
The drive officially started on Monday and is scheduled to run until Dec. 16.
Jon Hendel, planning and marketing analyst with Thunder Bay Transit, said riders will be able to donate non-perishable food items on any of the buses.
“Last year was great,” Hendel said.
“Dropping off that bus and unloading it was an unbelievable feeling and it was truly needed. We were looking at other opportunities to fundraise and we heard there was a definite need for the Thunder Bay Food Bank so that’s where it’s going to go again this year.”
The Santa Bus fundraiser started when a transit driver dressed as Santa Claus and collected donations while going along his bus route. That driver has since retired, but his campaign has remained with the city’s transit.
Hendel said they hoped to surpass the amount that they raised last year.
“We know there’s a need in this community but we also see it as a great opportunity to interact with our passengers and it great for our employees as well,” he said.
“It’s also something that’s homegrown; it started from operators and turned into a very successful program.”
Shirley Oikonen started as a transit operator last January and missed the Santa Bus campaign. She said she was excited to be a part of a drive that gave back to the community.
“The Santa Bus looks really nice and I’m impressed with all the lights on it,” Oikonen said. “I thought this was a very good idea.”
For the city bus schedule visit www.nextbus.com.
