Fill The Big Bus Middle School Food Drive 2025

‘Fill The Big Bus Middle School Food Drive’ Returns at WEC’s Night of Hope 5K on Aug. 23, 2025

The Rotary Club of Westerville is again joining forces with two valued community partners, Westerville Education Challenge (WEC) and The Big Bus, for the second annual Fill The Big Bus Middle School Food Drive, an initiative that supports food-insecure students across Westerville’s five middle schools.

This year’s drive will culminate at WEC’s 4th annual Night of Hope 5K, taking place the evening of Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at the Westerville North High School Cross Country Course and McCann Stadium.

“Food insecurity remains a challenge in our schools,” said Rotary Club Immediate Past President Brandy Deichert. “This food drive is our way of responding with compassion and purpose, because no student should have to worry about hunger while trying to learn.”

About WEC and Night of Hope

An all-volunteer organization that started in 2009, the Westerville Education Challenge has supported more than 10,000 students through scholarships, mentoring clubs, grants for teachers, programs such as Challenge Day and mental health and wellness initiatives.

More than 1,500 community volunteers and 40 corporate and community sponsors partner with WEC and their contributions include thousands of volunteer hours and more than $400,000 in donations. WEC’s Night of Hope 5K, 1 Miler and Family Fun Run raises funds for a variety of initiatives and programs that support student wellness and mental health in Westerville City Schools, including:

• The Hope Squad suicide prevention program
• Parent Prep workshops
• Where Everybody Belongs (WEB) program at the district’s five middle schools
• LINK Crew program, launching at all three high schools this fall
• Care for Twinkle, a district Canine Companions facility dog based at Westerville South High School
• Annual WEC-sponsored scholarships for high school graduates

This year, WEC’s 4th annual Night of Hope 5K, 1 Miler and Family Fun Run on Aug. 23 will honor those lives lost to suicide, and work to raise mental health awareness in the community. Registration opens at 5:30 p.m., and the 5K begins at 6:45 p.m. Register for the Night of Hope here.

How to support the food drive

Help us Fill The Big Bus with food donations for Westerville middle school students!

Community members are encouraged to:

• Drop off donations early at any Rotary Club of Westerville lunch meeting between July 24 and Aug. 21
• Bring non-perishable food donations to the Night of Hope 5K on Saturday, Aug. 23
  📍 Look for The Big Bus at Westerville North High School – we’ll be collecting donations all evening!

Requested Food Items:

• Rice
• Pasta
• Ramen
• Fruit Snacks
• Granola Bars
• Mac & Cheese
• Instant Oatmeal
• Mini Marshmallows

All food collected will be delivered to Neighborhood Bridges pantries at each of Westerville’s five middle schools, ensuring students have access to food when they need it most.

“Whether you’re joining us for the event or just stopping by, your donation helps students focus on learning, not hunger,” said Deichert.