Golden State Today

Unitrans and the Davis Food Co-op are set to host the eighth annual "Stuff the Bus" event on Saturday, December 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will take place in the parking lot of the Davis Food Co-op at 620 G St.

The collaboration between Unitrans, a service of the Associated Students of UC Davis (ASUCD), and Davis Food Co-op aims to fill one of Unitrans' vintage double-decker red buses with food and essential items. All donations collected during this event will be directed towards The Pantry, a campus space managed by ASUCD that supports college students facing food scarcity.

"The Pantry is looking to sustain student and employee well-being, so they don’t have to worry about their next meal," said Andie Tarabzooni, director of The Pantry. "We hope to provide food and resources that benefit people and leave them energized and refreshed."

The Pantry has identified its most-needed food donations as soups, canned proteins, oats, seasoning spices, pasta, rice, beans, nuts, coffee blends, broth, purées of any kind, coconut milk, diced tomatoes, ramen noodles, crackers, sauces like lentils or chickpeas tomato paste as well as any nonperishable food items.

"We look to take things that are more than just a quick bite and are instead sufficient enough to get people through the day," Tarabzooni said. "But if people are looking to donate to The Pantry we will always accept a donation as long as it meets safety guidelines."

Non-food donations that are highly prioritized include hygiene items such as deodorant menstrual pads shampoo conditioner disinfecting wipes toothbrushes toothpaste diapers among others.

The Davis Food Co-op was founded by UC Davis students in 1972. It offers an array of products including organically grown produce necessities specialty items across various categories while supporting local farmers organizations community members through its operations.

If by the end of this event bus gets completely stuffed with contributions then Co-op pledges $500 donation towards pantry otherwise funds will go completing goal stuffing bus fully before closing time comes around again next year!

Additionally first fifty donors receive free Unitrans pass valid ten rides within campus-city transit system making top deck accessible everyone interested participating memorable experience alike too!