The Food Bank of the Southern Tier and Wegmans have announced that the 2026 Fill the Bus campaign raised enough money to provide more than 160,000 meals for children across the Southern Tier this summer.
The annual campaign ran from June 3 through June 17, with shoppers at participating Wegmans stores donating $2, $3, or $5 at checkout to help children facing food insecurity while school is out of session.
“Summer can place added pressure on families already balancing rising grocery costs, higher gas prices, and the challenge of finding affordable child care while school meals are unavailable,” Food Bank of the Southern Tier President and CEO Mark Bordeau said. “We are deeply grateful to Wegmans and their customers for helping ensure children and families across our region continue to have access to nutritious food during the summer months, when the need can be especially difficult for many households.”
Funds raised through the campaign will support children and families throughout the Southern Tier during the summer, when many students lose access to free and reduced-price school meals.
Participating Wegmans locations included stores in Elmira, Johnson City, Ithaca, Hornell, and Corning.
The Food Bank of the Southern Tier said the success of the campaign highlights the continued support of local shoppers and community partners in helping fight hunger across the region.
