(Lawrenceville, Ga., Feb. 8, 2021)– In addition to keys, wallet and a cell phone, Gwinnett Transit’s Park & Ride patrons may want to add new items to their pre-commute checklist before they leave home the week of Feb. 15: canned foods, toiletries and dry goods.

Gwinnett County Transit and Gwinnett Community Outreach are asking transit users to bring non-perishable goods to the Park & Rides as part of the second Stuff-A-Bus donation drive to help people who are struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In the inaugural Stuff-a-Bus drive last year, patrons nearly filled a 40-foot-long commuter bus with food and other necessities that were distributed among local cooperative ministries.

“This is the time when food pantries struggle,” said Shaunieka Taylor, director of Community Outreach. “After the holidays, donations tend to slow down even though the need is still high. The Stuff-A-Bus program last year was extremely helpful, and we hope that people will step up again.”

Karen Winger, Transit Division director, said the success of the Stuff-a-Bus Donation Drive last year convinced County officials to try it again this year.

“People are looking for a way to help,” Winger said. “Last year we did our donation drive before the pandemic really hit Gwinnett County, so the need is certainly greater now than it was then. We’re optimistic that people will rise to the challenge once more.” 

People can bring their donations to the following Park & Ride lots:

• Feb. 15 and 16 from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Sugarloaf Mills Park & Ride, 1905 North Brown Road, Lawrenceville
• Feb. 17 from 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at Buford Park & Ride, I-985 at SR 20, Buford
• Feb. 18 and 19 from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. at Indian Trail Park & Ride, 1560 Indian Trail Lilburn Road, Norcross

The GCT Customer Service Office at 3525 Mall Boulevard, Suite 5C in Duluth also will be accepting donations from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 15 through 19.

Preferred food and toiletry items include: dry beans (navy/black), soups (vegetable/broth/cream), spaghetti sauce, canned tomato products, peanut butter/jelly, canned fruit, stuffing mix, cranberry sauce, yams, pasta, pancake mix, taco kits, gravy mix or jars/cans, cake mix, canned meat (chicken/beef), rice, applesauce, fruit cups, instant potatoes, tuna or chicken pouches, oatmeal, grits, canned vegetables (corn/peas/carrots), toilet paper, bath soap, toothpaste, shampoo, laundry detergent, baby and adult diapers, garbage bags and facial tissue.