TAMPA - In advance of the holiday season, the University of South Florida Athletic Department, along with Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) have again teamed up with Feeding America and the Marines Toys for Tots for the second annual "Take HART" food and toy drive to benefit children and families in the Tampa area.
Fans attending Saturday's USF football game against the University of Pittsburgh are asked to bring non-perishable food items, and new or slightly used toys to one of the HART buses at the north or south end of Raymond James Stadium. To the north of the stadium, a HART bus will be stationed near Gate A, and to the south a bus will be parked in the middle of Tampa Bay Blvd. Both buses will be present from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The football game begins at Noon.
"Last year, this effort collected hundreds of pounds of food, hundreds of toys, as well as cash donations," said David Armijo, HART Chief Executive Officer. "This year we hope fans will once again support this great cause that will help so many during the upcoming holidays, while supporting their college football team and local public transit."
In addition to the food and toy drive, HART will provide transportation to the game for youth from the Javamo's Art For Autism, many of whom will be attending their first Bulls football game.
"We're really fortunate to have such a solid relationship with HART and value their impact on the Tampa community," said USF Executive Associate Director of Athletics, Bill McGillis. "We hope to make this Food and Toy drive the staple of a late November game every year and HART is a terrific partner in this pursuit."
HART provides a network of bus, paratransit, streetcar and trolley services that serves more than 1 million passenger trips each month. In 2010, HART received the
Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award among mid-sized public transit agencies by the American Public Transportation Association.