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# Blue Bus Food Drive donations up 300 percent
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/blue-bus-food-drive-donations-up-300-percent/
- Published: 2002-01-29T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-22T23:59:29.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Community, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Daily Press Staff*

Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus Food Drive raised close to 6,000 pounds of food for the Westside Food Bank in December, a 300 percent increase from last year.

"We are thrilled at the outpouring of generosity," said Stephanie Negriff, Acting Director of the Big Blue Bus.

The proceeds benefit the Westside Food Bank, which reported that the Big Blue Bus Food Drive was one of their most successful food drives. The Westside Food Bank supplies food to over 60 social service agencies throughout West Los Angeles and reaches more than 70,000 people each year, half of them children.

The “food fight” was started by the Big Blue Bus, which challenged every city department to raise the largest amount of food. Each department filled numerous barrels with canned goods and non-perishable items.

This year's winning departments were the City Manager's Office, the Big Blue Bus, and the Planning and Community Development. Each department will be recognized with an official award.

"After September 11th, people were feeling the need to help others and give back to their community,” said Dan Dawson, Marketing Coordinator for the Big Blue Bus.

In other Big Blue Bus news, the community is invited to find out about and provide input on a variety of topics, including the 2002 service improvement plan, opening of the downtown transit mall, the new liquefied natural gas buses and facility, potential fare increases and new routes and schedules. Meeting dates and times are: Friday, January 25, 4 - 5:30 p.m. Santa Monica College, Board Conference Room B-111 Saturday, January 26, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Ken Edwards Center Tuesday, January 29, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Main Library - Auditorium

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 29, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/012902.pdf?ref=smdp.com)