Help Stuff the Bus for local food shelves!
Nov 17, 2025 5:36 am
Minnesota Valley Transit Authority and Schmitty & Sons Transit are inviting customers and the community to help Stuff the Bus Monday, Dec. 8, through Sunday, Dec. 21, to support local food shelves. Local Cub, Fresh Thyme Market, Hy-Vee, and Lunds & Byerly’s stores are supporting the effort.
An MVTA bus will be stationed at local grocery stores at designated times during the two-week collection period and food and cash donations will be collected for 360 Communities and CAP Agency food shelves serving Dakota and Scott counties.
Support local food shelves
CAP Agency’s Food Shelf in Shakopee provides immediate food and resources to individuals and families to bridge them through difficult times and help them reach self-sufficiency.
360 Communities serves more than 10,000 people annually with emergency food at food shelves in Apple Valley, Burnsville, Farmington, Lakeville, and Rosemount.
According to Hunger Solutions, in 2024, Minnesotans made nearly 9 million visits to food shelves, a record high that was 1.4 million more visits than in 2023. Food shelf visits have been increasing recently due to increased food prices and decreased SNAP benefits.
This will be the ninth Stuff the Bus collection. Last year, more than 3,400 pounds of food and $1,500 were donated to local food shelves.
Highest need items at local food shelves are non-perishable and include: canned fish and meat, peanut butter, canned fruit and vegetables, rice and pasta, and cooking/baking items. Cash can also be placed in the Stuff the Bus fare box at the stores during the collections.
MVTA is asking riders, drivers, staff, and the community at large, to Stuff the Bus to support local food shelves. This year, The MVTA is partnering with 10 local grocery stores.
Donate non-perishable food donations or cash at the stores per the schedule below.
- Apple Valley Fresh Thyme Wednesday, Dec. 10, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Burnsville Heart of the City Cub, Thursday, Dec. 11, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Apple Valley Cub, Friday, Dec. 12, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Rosemount Cub, Saturday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Eagan Cub, Sunday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Savage Hyvee, Tuesday, Dec. 16, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Prior Lake Lunds & Byerly’s, Wednesday, Dec. 17, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Savage Cub, Friday, Dec. 19, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Savage Fresh Thyme, Saturday, Dec. 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Shakopee Cub, Sunday, Dec. 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information regarding the 2025 Stuff the Bus campaign, call MVTA Customer Service at 952-882-7500.
