More than 3,000 pounds of food collected

By Chuck Gibson

LOVELAND, OH (May 19, 2026) – More than 3,000 pounds of food stuffed the bus at two Loveland area Kroger’s Sunday to support Loveland Inter Faith Effort (LIFE) Food Pantry summer food for kids & families.

One of the biggest food drives for the LIFE Food Pantry is a team effort with the Loveland City School District (LCSD) Transportation Department, the Loveland Kroger on Loveland-Madeira Road, Miami Township Kroger on Branch Hill-Guinea Pike, LIFE Food Pantry and the community. On Sunday, May 17th from 10 AM to 2 PM volunteers collected donations from generous shoppers at the two partner Kroger locations. Volunteers included members of the Loveland football team, as well as Sharon Ames, a LIFE Food Pantry volunteer, and Lisa Moorhead, the Loveland School Bus driver who initiated the “Stuff the Bus” food drive campaign many years ago. There were many other volunteers at both locations encouraging community members to donate by handing out a list of kid-friendly, shelf-stable items they could purchase during their visit to Kroger Sunday.

The bus at each location was stuffed multiple times making trips to the LIFE Food Pantry to unload before returning to be stuffed again. The Loveland Football players played a key role in helping to unload all the donations a the Pantry throughout the day. LIFE Food Pantry Executive Director Carol Rountree was on hand with the volunteers early Sunday as well.

 “Stuff the bus was an amazing success,” said Rountree. “It is truly a work of collaboration among the Loveland Kroger’s, Loveland School’s Transportation Department and LIFE Food Pantry.”

The exact final tally from the donations was 3,119 pounds of food collected at the two Kroger locations in Loveland & Miami Township. Rountree was especially thankful to all whose efforts made the special food drive event happen. She cited a couple for their hard work in putting the event on.

 “Special thanks to Sharon Ames, a LIFE Pantry volunteer and Lisa Moorhead for the transportation department for all their hard work to put this event on.” – Carol Rountree, Executive Director LIFE Food Pantry

More about LIFE Food Pantry at: https://lifefoodpantry.org/