Chargers Blog

The San Diego Chargers and MTS are partnering this year to run a series of food drives starting Nov. 10 and ending with a game day food drive at the Chargers vs. Philadelphia game at Qualcomm Stadium Nov. 15.

Starting Tuesday, Nov. 10, MTS will host “Stuff the Bus Food Drives” at select Vons supermarket parking lots where the public will be invited to stuff an MTS bus full of food to feed hungry San Diegans over the holiday season.

The Chargers and MTS will officially launch the food drive at a press conference at Qualcomm Stadium, Gate C on Nov. 10 at 10:30 a.m. with Vincent Jackson, Supervisor Ron Roberts and Food Bank officials.

On Sunday, Nov. 15 the Chargers will host a game-day food drive at Qualcomm Stadium with the Food Bank’s famous red food drive collection barrels at every stadium entrance.

The Food Bank is appealing to the community to support the food drives since it is currently feeding record numbers of San Diegans, and Food Bank officials say that this year’s food drive is of critical importance. All food collected will help the Food Bank meet the exponential increase in demand, especially over the holiday season. 

Food drive locations include:

Tues., Nov. 10, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Vons 6555 Mission Gorge Road,  92120

Weds., Nov. 11, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Vons Balboa Avenue, 92111 

Thurs., Nov. 12, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Vons 3610 Adams Avenue, 92116

Fri., Nov.13, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Vons 665 Saturn Street, 92154

Sun. Nov. 15, 12 noon – 3 p.m. Qualcomm Stadium, Chargers vs. Philadelphia game

Metropolitan Transit System CEO Paul Jablonski says, “MTS is pleased to unite with the Chargers to once again help the community with a food drive.  Stuff the Bus has become an important tradition at MTS and we hope our combined efforts will help those in need.”

The San Diego Food Bank cites its distribution statistics at the start of the food drive campaign that show double and triple-digit increases in demand from cities across the county.

The Food Bank’s figures compare the amount of food it distributed during the first two quarters of 2008 with the same period this year.

From January to June, the amount of food distributed to the needy doubled and tripled in key cities across the county. The number of meals distributed by the Food Bank in the City of San Diego alone increased from 1.6 million to 2.4 million.

SDFB distribution increases Q1-Q2 2008 vs. Q1-Q2 2009

City % Increase
El Cajon 32%
Fallbrook 100%
Imperial Beach 202%
La Mesa 31%
Lemon Grove 144%
National City 13%
Oceanside 12%
San Diego 39%
San Ysidro 29%
Spring Valley 80%
Vista 86%

Based on the number of people enrolled on Food Bank programs and reports from its nonprofit partners, the number of people served by the Food Bank every month has increased from 200,000 to 304,000 from 2008 to 2009, an increase of 52%. 

Food Bank CEO J. Scofield Hage said: “We are so grateful to MTS and the Chargers for supporting the Food Bank with these important food drives. Getting more food donated to the Food Bank will be critical this year with demand soaring. We are feeding more people than ever before, but it is due to the help of organizations like MTS and the Chargers that we are able to meet the increased need.”

Posted via email from Chargers Media