Stuff the Truck for Thanksgiving

Boston College is once again aiding efforts to combat hunger during the holidays in Greater Boston through the annual Stuff the Truck Thanksgiving food drive.

Sponsored by Campus Ministry in partnership with Catholic Charities of Boston, the drive—which ends November 20—aims to supply more than 500 families in need across the Greater Boston area with food for the holiday season. 

Members of the Boston College community are encouraged to drop off non-perishable items in the orange buckets stationed around campus, the bins outside of Corcoran Commons, or at the U-Haul stationed outside McElroy Commons.  Basic food items such as rice, beans, tuna fish, chicken, cereal, dried pasta, peanut butter, sauce, and canned fruits or vegetables are particularly needed.

Begun in 2015 as a collaboration between Campus Ministry and Catholic Charities, Stuff the Truck has expanded to include campus partners such as the University Mission and Ministry division, the Office of the Dean of Students, Student Services, Women’s Resource Center, the Murray Center for Student Wellness, and St. Ignatius Parish, among many others.

Some 250 Boston College students and administrators packed over 3,000 meal bags at last year's event. In addition, for the last three years, BC students have volunteered at Catholic Charities Yawkey Child Care Center in Dorchester on the Friday before Thanksgiving, packing meal bags for needy families. The meal bags are distributed at Catholic Charities’ food pantry locations in Dorchester, South Boston, Lowell, and Lynn. 

“Many of us have been deeply troubled by the thought of children, families, and seniors struggling to eat,” said Kelley Tuthill, the President of Catholic Charities of Boston. “Partners like Boston College are leading the way to help vulnerable families in our communities.

“Although Stuff the Truck is a Thanksgiving-related event, we have to remember that the next day people still need to eat,” said BC Campus Minister Ellen Modica. “Combatting hunger is an effort that goes on all year round, but it is particularly important that we meet the demand for local families during the holiday season. We welcome the support of the BC community to help make a difference.”