Public transportation agencies in Philadelphia and the San Diego area have launched off their annual food drives in anticipation of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other year-end celebrations.

In Philadelphia, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) held its fifth annual “Stop Hunger at Your Station” food drive to benefit Philabundance, the region’s largest hunger relief organization, for two weeks beginning Oct. 7. SEPTA customers donated nonperishable food items in marked barrels at 42 designated stations throughout the system.

“At this time of year, many people are prepping their own kitchens for the holiday and winter seasons, stocking up on hearty canned and dry foods. They aren’t looking at their cabinets to see what extra items they might have to donate to the local food bank,” said SEPTA General Manager Joseph M. Casey. “That means that donations to Philabundance are diminishing. The items we collect through the ‘Stop Hunger at Your Station’ food drive are crucial in helping Philabundance feed families across our region by keeping the shelves filled and the doors of its almost 500 member agencies open.”

Since 2009, SEPTA customers and employees have donated more than 65 tons of food to Philabundance. Last year’s drive brought in 19 tons, or 37,915 meals.

Philabundance provides food to approximately 72,000 people per week through member  agencies such as food cupboards, shelters, and emergency kitchens. Of the low-income area  residents served by the organization, 16 percent are senior citizens and 23 percent are children.

In Oceanside, CA, the North County Transit District and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) are joining partners including the Armed Services YMCA and Girl Scouts San Diego for the Oct. 26 “Stuff the Bus” food drive. The 19 40-foot buses to be filled during the event, parked at area Albertsons supermarkets and Girl Scout headquarters, will then take the donations to the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, to be unloaded by YMCA volunteers.

The goal of the sixth annual drive is to collect enough donations to provide 19,000 meals. Last year’s campaign provided 12,000 meals.

“MTS initiated this partnership six years ago to help families in need have food to eat during the holidays,” said Paul Jablonski, chief executive officer. “Albertsons’ commitment to this program is outstanding, and this year, with the addition of the Girl Scouts to our lineup of partners, I am confident that the people of San Diego will support the Food Bank in record numbers.”

On average, the Jacobs & Cushman Food Bank feeds 320,000 people every month. In Fiscal Year 2012, the food bank distributed nearly 20 million pounds of food, the equivalent of 16.6 million meals. 

Kicking off SEPTA’s 2013 “Stop Hunger at Your Station” food drive are, from left, Philabundance President and Executive Director Bill Clark, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, and SEPTA Assistant General Manager Susan Van Buren, surrounded by SEPTA and Philabundance employees.