AVTA Begins 30th Year of Stuff-a-Bus Toy Collection Efforts

Lancaster – Beginning Wednesday, November 27th and continuing through Monday December 16th, the Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) Stuff-a-Bus Holiday Toy Drive will be holding its annual collection of toys and clothing for the Antelope Valley community's children in need.

"For the past 30 years, AVTA has partnered with the Antelope Valley community to bring joy to those in need during this holiday season," said AVTA Board Chairman Marvin Crist. "The key to our success is our staff, volunteers, local residents, and generous sponsors, all working together with the goal of helping kids."

Each year the AVTA Stuff-a-Bus Toy Drive collects donations of new unwrapped toys, clothing, and gifts for children ages 0-18. Santa's helpers will be heard chanting "Stuff That Bus!" and ringing their bells to make sure the children and families they serve have a much brighter holiday season. For 30 years, this annual event has brought joy to the hearts of local children in need during the holidays by collecting enough toys and clothes to fill to the roof their specially decorated, all-electric, 40-foot bus. 

There will be five Stuff-a-Bus collection event opportunities this year, beginning with the AV YMCA Gobble Wobble Fun Run on Wednesday, November 27nd from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., then the City of Palmdale’s Jolly Holiday event on Saturday, December 7th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the West Palmdale Walmart on Sunday, December 8rd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., then A Magical BLVD Christmas on Saturday, December 14th from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and finally the West Lancaster Walmart on Sunday, December 15th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A Stuff-a-Bus donation box is also located at the AVTA office in Lancaster. 

AVTA works with local charities to collect and distribute all toy and gift donations. Participating 2024 charities are AV Sheriff's Boosters, Grace Resources, Antelope Valley Youth Agricultural Association, Valley Oasis, Kids Feeding Kids Through Agriculture, Child and Family Guidance Center, and the South Antelope Valley Emergency Services (SAVES).

One hundred percent of donations will be distributed at the Holiday Drive-Thru Grocery and Toy Giveaway at AVTA on December 21st, 2024. No sign up is necessary and the event is open to all Antelope Valley Residents. Local families will receive Christmas meal supplies in addition to toys and gifts for their children from the AVTA Stuff-a-Bus program and more than 300 bicycles donated by the AV Sheriff's Boosters. Children do not need to be present for parents to receive toys.  

Many local businesses helped AVTA to raise nearly $45,000 to help purchase toys and gifts for the holiday drive. 

"The generosity of our major sponsors, such as the City of Lancaster, City of Palmdale, AV Sheriff's Boosters, Palmdale Regional Medical Center, RIDE/BYD, Duke Engineering, AV Transportation Services (AVTS), Trevino and Associates, L.A. County 5th District Kathryn Barger's Office, WM, High Desert Broadcasting, NorthPoint Development, and MV Transportation, make a huge impact in the lives of many local families," continued AVTA Board Chairman Crist. "We also want to thank, RentSource, DP Commercial Brokerages, Kaiser Permanente, Complete Coach Works, Ironworkers Local 416 and 433, Vinsa Insurance Associates, High Desert Medical Group, Avail Technologies, Edwards FCU, AVEDGE, Bayshore Consulting Group, Stradling, Yocca, Carlson & Rauth, Weideman Group, OpSec Security, Palmdale Elementary Teachers Association, A-Z Bus Sales, New Flyer/MCI, LookUp Communications, and Crazy Ottos, whose contributions help make AVTA’s Stuff-a-Bus a huge success."

AVTA provides local, commuter and dial-a-ride service to a population of more than 475,000 residents in the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale as well as the unincorporated portions of northern Los Angeles County. Its total service area covers 1,200 square miles and it is bounded by the Kern County line to the north, the San Bernardino County line to the east, the Angeles National Forest to the south, and Interstate 5 to the West.