Here's some food for thought: how much food can fit into a school bus? Ask the four McMaster students who are organizing the Feed The Bus “foodraiser” for the answer, give or take a few thousand calories.

From March 22 to 26, a school bus donated by Laidlaw and McMaster Parking & Transit Services will be parked in front of historic Hamilton Hall on McMaster's campus to collect non-perishable food items.

According to Erin Smith, a co-organiser of Feed The Bus, “the goal is to fill the bus as much as possible with food that will go towards addressing the very real and growing problem of hunger in the Hamilton community via Mission Services, Good Shepherd Centres, and Neighbour to Neighbour.”

Snezana Ljiljak, director of Family Services at Neighbour to Neighbour maintains that “usage of our food bank has increased by more than 20 per cent over the last year and we currently serve over 1,000 families each month. Our staff, volunteers, and especially our clients are highly appreciative of all the hard work of those involved the Feed the Bus campaign.”

According to Sam Minniti, former McMaster Students Union president and media liaison, “Hunger exists on all campuses across Canada. It just doesn't have as familiar a face as other problems, but it is a problem that we need to address nonetheless.”

Those interested in donating food or money that will be used to purchase some of the more urgently needed foodstuffs do not necessarily have to come on to campus to make their donations. “There are numerous drop-off boxes in the community including Williams Coffee Pub, Westdale Public Library, Terryberry Library, Sherwood Library, Blessings Christian Marketplace, and Holy Trinity Anglican Church,” says Michelle Causier, a student co-organiser for the project. “We are always looking for more partners who are interested in helping us aid people who lack resources for food.”

Steve van de Hoef, on-campus liaison concludes, “Feed the Bus is an excellent way to draw the campus community together. We recognize the need on campus and within the greater Hamilton area of which we are a part. This is a fun and effective way in which we may participate together to help others in need.”