Stuff-A-Bus

The 38th Annual Stuff-A-Bus Food Drive Returns from October 10 through December 1, 2025

The 38th Annual Stuff-A-Bus food drive to benefit the Peoria Friendship House of Christian Service officially begins on Friday, October 10, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. with a press conference at the Kroger store location at 9219 N. Lindbergh Drive in Peoria. Representatives from CityLink, the Peoria Friendship House and Kroger will be on hand to kick off the annual food drive. This year, Stuff-A-Bus plans to collect 10 tons of food onto the re-imagined ’vintage’ CityLink bus.

To mark the kickoff this year, there will be a live broadcast at the Kroger on Lindbergh from Cumulus Radio station Z 92.3 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., encouraging listeners to stop by the kickoff event and donate to Stuff-A-Bus. Additionally, mascots from the Peoria Rivermen and Mustang hockey teams and Peoria Chiefs baseball team will be present, providing some extra enthusiasm to the event.

For the past 38 years, CityLink has hosted the Stuff-A-Bus food drive to help eliminate hunger in Peoria. With a long partnership with Kroger to collect enough food to stuff a CityLink bus, the donations collected during the annual food drive benefit the food pantry at the Peoria Friendship House of Christian Service. In a year, the Peoria Friendship House food pantry provides an average of 150,000 meals to those dealing with hunger in Peoria.

All Peoria Kroger stores are participating in this year’s Stuff-a-Bus campaign, which includes the stores in Peoria located at 9219 Lindbergh Dr.; and 801 W. Lake Ave. The Kroger store in East Peoria, located at 201 S. Main St. is also participating. New this year is the Kroger store in Pekin, located at 1607 Broadway St. The participating Kroger stores will have donation displays available that include non-perishable food items that are needed at the Peoria Friendship House food pantry. Shoppers can simply purchase items from the displays or purchase food off the shelves and place the donations in the bins located at the front of the stores.

The following businesses/organizations are also serving as drop-off locations during the 2025 Stuff-A-Bus food drive: 

•        CityLink Administrative offices (129 Van Buren Street, Peoria, IL 61603)

•        Jones Bros. Jewelers (7705 North Grand Prairie Drive, Peoria, IL 61615)

•        West Peoria City Hall (2421 W. Rohmann Avenue, West Peoria, IL 61604)

•        WMBD Studios (3131 N. University Street, Peoria, IL 61604)

•        Embassy Suites (100 Conference Center Dr, East Peoria, IL 61611)

•        Busey Bank Peoria Locations (4520 N Sheridan Road; 8919 Knoxville Avenue; 405 N William Kumpf Boulvard; 6699 N Sheridan Road, 2120 SW Adams Street)

Cumulus Radio, WYZZ Fox 43, WMBD CBS 31 and CIPROUD.com are media partners in this food drive and will air public service announcements about the great need to collect enough groceries to keep the Peoria Friendship House of Christian Service food pantry open all year long. The Amalgamated Transit Union Local #416 is also a long-time participating sponsor of Stuff-A-Bus.

The Peoria Friendship House of Christian Service was established in 1951 as a response to the great need for assistance to individuals and families living in deep poverty. Peoria Friendship House provides valuable services such as food, medical assistance, youth education, adult education, employment preparation, and finance and employment coaching, while encouraging lasting change for those it serves. Their Advocacy, Coaching, Education and Support approach provides wrap-around services supported by short and long-term coaching for both the Latino and English-speaking communities. The staff at the Peoria Friendship House are dedicated to providing hope and guidance that offers a “hand-up” rather than handout.

Peoria Friendship House forms collaborations with community partners to provide resources outside of their agency. For further information on Peoria Friendship House programs, please call
309-671-5200 or visit their website at friendship.house. The Peoria Friendship House of Christian Service is proud to be a Heart of Illinois United Way Community Partner.

For the most up-to-date information on this year’s food drive, please “like” the Stuff-A-Bus Facebook page at facebook.com/stuffabuspeoria.

RECOMMENDED FOOD DONATIONS

• Protein – Canned Meat, Beef Stew, Tuna, Canned Chili, Peanut Butter, Canned and Dried Beans
• Fruits & Vegetables – Canned Fruit, Canned Vegetables, Canned Soup, Fruit Juices, Jelly
• Carbohydrates – Pasta, Rice, Instant Potatoes, Macaroni & Cheese, Cereal, Pancake Mix, Oatmeal, Cake Mixes
• Dairy – Canned Milk, Instant Pudding