Huskies switch up Fill the Bus holiday food drive for 2025

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A holiday tradition featuring members of the local minor hockey community will return in 2025, as the Fill the Bus campaign returns for its 28th year.

The food drive, organized by Strike Group North West Junior Hockey League (NWJHL) team the Fort St. John Huskies usually involves team players and members of other local programs such as the North East BC Trackers and the North East BC Predators.

The object of the event is to go around the neighbourhoods of Fort St. John, with the players gathering food items to fill the Huskies’ travel bus. The proceeds are then donated to the Fort St. John Salvation Army’s food bank.

However, this year will look different, as opposed to previous editions. While local teams canvassed door-to-door in other years, the Huskies announced food drop off locations will be in various local stores around the city, where residents can drop off non-perishable food items.

Huskies president Michael Bacso and director Traci Hammond stopped by Moose FM to chat with afternoon show host Chris Walker on November 27th, also speaking about this weekend’s NWJHL All-Star game.

 “It’s the way for our players to give back to the community,” said Hammond. “[We’re doing it this way] because we are lacking volunteers. We usually have anywhere from [more than] two hockey teams helping us. We don’t have that this year.

“We have resorted back to when we did [the drive during] Covid. We couldn’t go door-to-door. We’re going to do kind of the same thing with a couple of different drop-off locations.”

Bacso mentioned weather and the growth of the city has played a major role in restructuring the event as well. 

“When you have the possibility of bad weather, having everybody out there for 12 hours doesn’t work,” Bacso said.

However, like any community event in Fort St. John, businesses have stepped up to help out, with Louisiana Pacific Building Solutions challenging other businesses to gather 1,500 pounds of non-perishable food items.

Companies that wish to take part will need to contact the club at fsjhuskiestickets@gmail.com  to arrange pick up prior to the event’s date, which is scheduled for December 7th, or to drop off items at The Butcher Block.

Drop off locations include Save-On-Foods, Amanda’s No Frills, Canadian Tire, the Salvation Army Thrift Store and The Butcher Block.

Those unable to drop off items at the location can phone a contact number released closer to the event to come and have members of the Huskies pick up donations.

Hammond mentioned to Walker that items the Salvation Army could use include instant noodles, canned meats, canned vegetables such as corn peas and green beans, canned fruit and canned soups.

The Huskies Fill the Bus food drive takes place on Sunday, December 7th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

More details about the drive can be found on the Huskies Facebook and Instagram pages and website.