Sr. Preston Saycocie was spending a perfectly fine Saturday afternoon outside a grocery store, begging shoppers for canned goods. But the crowds were not as expected. Many shoppers just ignored the giant yellow bus in the front of the store, as well as the crowd of students surrounding it. But suddenly, a woman and her son came walking up to the bus with a shopping cart full with 8 bags overflowing with shampoo and toothbrushes. As the students rushed to the lady to collect the goods, Saycocie grinned from ear to ear. After this, the crowds rushed to give goods to the students, and Saycocie and his peers were busy until 2 PM when the event ended. This year’s Stuff the Bus was another success.

  On December 5, WO students filled the entrances to D&W and Family Fare grocery stores, asking shoppers to help them Stuff the Bus. The bus, being a massive yellow school bus, showed the shoppers that this was a tough goal. The bus represented achievement for the students, and it was the key to making sure this event was a success. With every box and canned good that was packed on the bus’ seats, the students realized the significance of the event and its impact on the community. Instructor Mike Jaeger brought a massive boom box that he stuck into a shopping cart so it wouldn’t get wet on the ground, where students provided Christmas tunes to charge the holiday spirit.

 The shoppers were very generous in their donations, and helped WO students pack 5,000 pounds of food on the seats, in the aisles, and under the benches.

  For some students, this event was a return to an annual party with friends for community service, but for most, the 2015 Stuff the Bus was their first plunge into volunteer hours for NHS, or just their first occasion of giving back to Holland. “It feels great helping people out, knowing you’re giving back to the community,” Jr. Dylan Agema said. The above average December temperatures made this event much easier to attend and enjoy.

   Despite the below desired weather, some of WO’s choir members joined in the charity to sing some Holiday carols to get shoppers and students in the spirit of helping others. These students were among the roughly 30 participants that helped Stuff the Bus.

   Stuff the Bus this year filled the WO Food Pantry, and almost stuffed the Community Action House to the ceiling. Through students sacrificing one Saturday morning and afternoon, there are more of us fellow WO students that can go to sleep with a meal in their stomach. Stuff the Bus is an annual event, so if you would like to participate next year, contact either Mr. Jaeger or Instructor Brian Taylor for details once the event approaches.