A Full Bus for a Good Cause: MVTA's Campaign to Feed the Community

Target Audience: The target audience for Stuff the Bus were the members of the 7 suburban communities served by MVTA (Burnsville, Eagan, Apple Valley, Shakopee, Savage, Prior Lake, Rosemount).

Strategy Objective:This event was an effort by MVTA with the support of Schmitty and Sons Transportation to collect food items and money to benefit 360 Communities and Community Action Partnership Agency. These organizations serve Scott and Dakota County, providing immediate and emergency food to local families. During the event, MVTA buses parked at local grocery stores and employees set up a table in the entryway to collect money and food for the community. Our marketing and customer service teams worked closely with the stores and the community to further the impact of this initiative. A logo and graphic were created in order to make the event recognizable and follow a consistent brand voice. Flyers, monitor ads, sandwich boards, and social media posts were shared throughout the seven cities we serve.

Situation Challenge: It is vital to the agency that MVTA remains involved and supportive of the community it serves. Stuff the Bus happens each year during the holiday season, which can be a difficult time for people and their families given the cold Minnesota winter. MVTA is always seeking ways to get involved in and support our communities outside of the transit service we provide.

Results Impact: In 2022, 3,241 pounds of food and $3,829.51 was collected for 360 Communities and CAP Agency. To put things into perspective, that's enough donations for 3,768 meals for a family of four. We certainly cannot take all the credit for the turnout of this event; it would not have been as successful without the several partnerships throughout our core service cities. This event also increased learning and networking opportunities for employees and allowed the agency to spread the message of these charities. This event will take place again in December of 2023, which the agency hopes will be equally, if not more successful. Already, the scope of the project is widening; in 2022, the agency partnered with 7 grocery stores, and in 2023, it will partner with 9.

Why Submit: This entry was submitted to highlight the importance of giving back to our communities and supporting our neighbors. This multi-day event was a collective effort by MVTA and Schmitty and Sons staff to show up for the communities we serve; it is truly a person-driven initiative and could not have happened without the goodness of multiple groups of people coming together.