The City of Escalon through eTrans will conduct a “Stuff This Bus” food drive on Saturday, Nov. 19 and Sunday, Nov. 20. The food donated to eTrans will benefit the Escalon C.A.R.E., Community Action Resources of Escalon, Center to help those in need this holiday season.

This annual event began in November 2010 in partnership with Big Boy Market and Escalon C.A.R.E. In November 2011, the City of Escalon also began partnering with San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) as part of their larger event in Stockton. Lodi GrapeLine and Manteca Transit are also participating in this event in their respective cities.

Both days this weekend, on Saturday, Nov. 19 and Sunday, Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Big Boy Market, 2226 Jackson Ave., in Escalon, 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. On Saturday, KWIN’s Street Team and a personality will be at the Escalon location to promote the effort.

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. provides food items 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 areas 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/.