Media Relations Contact:
Morgan Lyons
Mark A. Ball

November 25, 2008

DART employees collecting donations

Help DART stuff buses for the holidays to comfort those in need

DART customers have some opportunities to fill buses with food, clothing and toys for those needing a lift during the holiday season.

Employees of the transit agency are working together to encourage customers to donate new socks and blankets, non-perishable food, as well as new toys to help local agencies by participating in three "stuff-a-bus" campaigns during December.

"Comforting of the Soul"
Bus operators and maintenance team members will begin collecting new blankets and socks at DART's Northwest Bus Operating Facility, 2424 Webb Chapel Extension, Dallas, 75220 on Monday, Dec. 1. Look for a specially marked bus to make donations from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, Dec. 5.

The program, developed and named by operations and maintenance staff, is called "Comforting of the Soul" and is designed to support five selected Dallas-area nursing homes. They include three Brentwood Health Care facilities, South Haven Nursing Home, and Senior Care at Dallas (formerly Fair Park). The program is also supported by radio stations KESS (107.9), KLNO (94.1), KFZO (99.1), KDXX (107.1) and KRNB Radio (105.7) who will broadcast live from the DART facility during the week.

Other drop off locations include DART's Red Bird Transit Center, 4831 South Hampton, Dallas on Tuesday, Dec. 2 from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. KGGR (1040 AM) and KHVN (970 AM) will also broadcast live from the center. In addition, drop-off boxes will be located through the week at DART's North Irving Transit Center, 5601 Riverside Drive, and DART's South Garland Transit Center, 4051 Leon Road.

Help DART Santa Cops load their sleigh
A second opportunity for the public to "stuff" a bus will be at Mockingbird Station, 5465 E. Mockingbird Lane on Thursday, Dec. 11 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. DART Police and radio station KKDA-FM (104.5) have partnered to benefit Santa Cops and the Dallas-Arlington Life Foundation and are looking for new, unwrapped toys. Radio station K-104 will broadcast live from Mockingbird Station during the toy drive.

Holiday Lights
People attending the annual Holiday Lights celebration at Fair Park on Saturday, Dec. 13 are invited to stuff another DART bus with non-perishable food donations to benefit the North Texas Food Bank. The bank supports families and organizations in 13 counties. Volunteers will accept donations of food and household items such as paper products, laundry detergent and non-perishable food from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. during this one-day event.

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