Back by popular demand: “Stuff-a-bus” food drive accepting donations outside Wading River Fire Department

A popular Wading River food drive has been resurrected this holiday season.

It’s been three years since the fire department last held its annual “Stuff-A-Bus” food drive, and residents have been worried that the food drive had ended for good.

But thanks to the efforts of Wading River Fire Department Captain Tom Whelan, the food drive is back. For the next month, a yellow school bus decorated with Christmas lights and candy canes will be parked outside the Wading River Fire Department, waiting to be loaded up with donations from local residents.

“It’s something we did for a long time, but we stopped it three years ago,” said Glenn Erick, Wading River Fire District commissioner. “People have been asking us about it, and they’re really happy to have it back.”

The school bus, which was donated by First Student bus company, is parked at the fire department’s headquarters on North Country Road. Residents can bring canned goods to the department and drop them off at the bus until the first weekend in January, when they will be distributed to local food banks.

“One of the highlights of the year for the membership is when they deliver the needed food to the churches and food banks, all thanks to the generous residents of Wading River,” said Michael Hammer, fire department president.

Volunteer firefighters and students from the department’s Explorer program will also be collecting donations for the drive at the entrance to the King Kullen supermarket in Wading River.

Otherwise, donations of non-perishable goods and canned foods may be dropped off at the school bus outside the fire department at any time.