The City of Escalon through eTrans will conduct a “Stuff The Bus” food drive on Saturday, Nov. 18 and Sunday, Nov.19. The food donated to eTrans will benefit the Escalon C.A.R.E. Center to help those in need for this holiday season. This is the seventh annual event locally, as the food drive began in November 2010 in partnership with Big Boy Market and Escalon C.A.R.E. In November 2011, the city also began partnering with San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) as part of their larger event in Stockton.

On Saturday, Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Big Boy Market, 2226 Jackson Ave., eTrans will have a bus parked in front of the store and ask customers to help out Escalon C.A.R.E. by donating perishable and non-perishable food inside the bus.

Customers of Big Boy Market that purchase any item that is donated to this cause will receive a 10 percent discount off their purchases at the store during this weekend event.

Escalon C.A.R.E. serves food to 100 households a week through its Weekly Emergency Supplemental Food Program on the first, second, fourth and (when applicable) fifth Wednesday of each month from 9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The C.A.R.E. program is open for the residents of Escalon and Farmington who need food and whose income meets the Federal poverty level (Self-reporting of income is required). A bag of food is provided free, one for each household.

For information on eTrans, call (209) 541-6645 or visit www.cityofescalon.org.

For information on Escalon C.A.R.E., call (209) 838-3831 or visit www.escalonpres.org/care-food-bank/.

A coat drive is also being hosted in conjunction with the Stuff the Bus and all donations help out those in need in the local area.