LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLAX/WEAU) – Aquinas Middle School students were told to stuff it!

The Bus that is.

For over 20 years, Aquinas Middle School student leaders have coordinated a food/supply drive. This year’s goal is to collect 2000 items, stuffing a bus in the process, and deliver them to WAFER food pantry. On the morning of Monday, November 20^th, students will stuff the bus and then see it off to the WAFER building. They then follow that bus and carefully organize the donations in the WAFER warehouse.

WAFER, La Crosse County’s largest food pantry, says they are grateful for such compassionate students who organize this drive year after year to benefit their neighbors in need. And this drive is coming at a critical time. Community donations dropped off during the summer months while the need increased not seen in the last 5 years. WAGFER says these students are an example of giving to many within the community while creating awareness for those who don’t have enough (or anything) to eat or may not know where their next meal is coming from.

In serving the greater La Crosse area, WAFER provides food packages to 1500 families of 3500 individuals each month. This food is intended to provide 4 to 5 days worth of food per person. Last year, WAFER collected and distributed 1.7 million pounds (or 1.5 million meals) through in-house and outreach programming like their senior package delivery, weekend backpacks for rural students and Mobile Pantry services.