From Derry to Belfast: North west support helps Stuff a Bus 2025 collect 36,000 meals

Final collection day at Belfast Grand Central Station brings campaign to a close, with continued generosity from the public, schools and businesses across the region. Online donations remain open to support families and individuals facing food insecurity this winter.

Translink’s annual Christmas food drive, Stuff a Bus, delivered in partnership with FareShare NI (operated by Homeless Connect), and media partners U105 and Belfast Live, has collected 36,382 meals to date to support people across Northern Ireland this winter, following the final collection day at Belfast Grand Central Station.

Now in its ninth year, the award-winning campaign once again saw communities, workplaces and passengers come together in the lead-up to Christmas to donate essential food items and make monetary contributions for those most in need.

The final collection day, held at Belfast Grand Central Station, brought a festive atmosphere to the station and featured musical performances, live broadcasts from U105, media coverage from Belfast Live and a steady stream of donations from commuters, Translink staff, volunteers and members of the public who came together to ‘stuff the bus’.

Local schools and businesses, including Methodist College Belfast, Kainos, NI Blood Transfusion Services and Northern Ireland Chamber, played a key role in this year’s Stuff a Bus campaign, getting involved through workplace collections, staff and pupil fundraising, and direct donations.

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In addition to the Belfast Grand Central Station finale, Stuff a Bus 2025 included regional collection days and roadshow activity across Northern Ireland, making it easier than ever for people to take part locally and support FareShare’s work distributing food to charities, community groups, breakfast clubs, and frontline services.

Key events were also hosted at the North West Transport Hub in Derry and at Newry Bus Station, with festive performances from local schools including St Columbas, New Buildings and St Malachy’s in Newry which helped further boost donations for the worthwhile campaign.

Commenting on the campaign’s success, Chris Conway, Group CEO at Translink, said: “What stands out about Stuff a Bus 2025 is the breadth of support behind it. This year’s campaign reached even further into communities across Northern Ireland, with people taking part at stations, in workplaces and online, all with the same shared aim.

“Our events in Derry and Newry along with the final collection day at Belfast Grand Central Station brought all of the effort together, but the real impact lies in what happens next. These donations will support people facing very real pressures this winter, and I am incredibly proud of the role our staff, passengers and partnering businesses and organisations have played in making that possible.”

The 2025 campaign comes at a time when food insecurity remains a serious issue, with FareShare NI continuing to support a growing network of charities responding to increased demand.

Nicola McCrudden, CEO of Homeless Connect FareShare NI, said: “Behind every figure is a household, a school or a community organisation relying on this support. Demand for food support continues to rise, and campaigns like Stuff a Bus are critical in helping us respond at pace and at scale.

“The generosity shown throughout this year’s campaign means we can continue getting food where it is needed most. We are grateful to everyone who donated and to Translink, U105, and Belfast Live who helped make this happen across Northern Ireland again this year.”

Suzanne Wylie, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Chamber, added: “Businesses across Northern Ireland want to play a meaningful role in supporting their communities and Stuff a Bus provides a practical way to do that.

"Our members, who include some of the region's biggest employers, have donated generously to a wide variety of worthy causes this Christmas and as a Chamber, we've been pleased to help facilitate those efforts. It is encouraging to see so many organisations taking action at a time when the need is clear. The Stuff a Bus campaign in particular, shows the difference coordinated effort can make.”

While physical collections have now concluded, online donations remain open until 11th January 2026, allowing the public and businesses to continue supporting FareShare NI in the weeks ahead.

Find out more about the campaign and donate at stuffabusni.com.