The 25th annual Stuff the Bus toy drive is set for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, December 2, 2023, outside the seven local Fred Meyer stores. Stuff the Bus is the result of a partnership between the Salvation Army, KTVB, and Valley Regional Transit (VRT), with the goal of filling VRT buses with new, unwrapped toys or gift cards for children of all ages. The Salvation Army will distribute the items to families in need throughout the community. At the end of the event, the toys will be bagged up and transported to Salvation Army distribution centers in Boise, Nampa and Caldwell. The VRT buses will be parked near the main entrances of the seven Fred Meyer stores in the Treasure Valley:
- 5230 Franklin Road, Boise
- 3527 South Federal Way, Boise
- 10751 West Overland Road, Boise
- 5425 West Chinden Boulevard, Garden City
- 1850 Fairview Avenue, Meridian
- 1400 Chinden Boulevard, Meridian
- 50 2nd Street South, Nampa
Last year, a total of 6,342 toys were donated, along with $600 in gift cards and cash. In the 24 years VRT has participated in Stuff the Bus, more than 165,000 toys have been donated.