EVERETT — When Steve Oss was a bus driver, passengers often asked for advice or shared their troubles.
He watched children grow up riding his route and got to know entire families. When they told him they couldn’t make rent that month, that made his heart ache.
Oss was born and raised in Everett and wanted to help people in his community.
Now president of the union that represents Everett Transit bus drivers, Oss spent Saturday at Fred Meyer on Bothell-Everett Highway, encouraging people to donate to the seventh annual Stuff a Bus campaign.
The goal is to fill a 35-foot bus with toys, food and household necessities to donate to Volunteers of America. Saturday was the first day of the drive. The bus will be back at Fred Meyer three more times in the next two weeks.
“Everett is my home. It means a lot to be able to help people who live here,” Oss said.
Everett Transit drivers, their families and volunteers were on hand to give out flyers and carry donations into the bus. Oss made split pea soup to help keep everyone warm.
Ashley Meadows from Volunteers of America was handing out flyers with the list of needed items.
“This is a really cool idea,” she said. “I’ve never heard of anything like this.”
Several hours into the drive, dozens of bags with toys, diapers and canned food were stocked on the seats and in the aisle. In past years, the bus was completely full by the end of the drive. Oss hopes people will be generous this year, too.
“A lot of people, they just want to give,” he said.
Tadd Sappingfield, of Arlington, carried in a few more bags with donations. When the bus driver showed up to help with the campaign Saturday, he saw it was his bus being used for the good cause.
“I was surprised how fast they took in so much stuff,” he said.
Amy Hulen, who recently moved to Everett from Michigan, dropped off a few bags with baby supplies, toys and groceries.
“I grew up in a low-income family,” she said. “We are not low-income anymore, so this is the right thing to do.”
Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452, kyefimova@heraldnet.com.
How to help
Help stuff a bus for local families: The bus will be back from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 4, Dec. 11 and Dec. 12 at Fred Meyer, 12906 Bothell-Everett Highway. Drop off non-perishable food items, non-violent toys, clothes, baby supplies and household items. For more information, contact Everett Transit customer service, 425-257-7777.
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