VIRGINIA BEACH -- Nine years ago, Z-104 Zoo morning host Shaggy had a great idea. Today, that idea is responsible for thousands of children around Hampton Roads getting gifts to open on Christmas Day.
"This is my brainchild of an idea that has erupted into something really, really fun," said Shaggy.
He created "Stuff The Bus." His plan was to get buses and broadcast live for a week, asking listeners to come out, say hello and drop off toys for the Marine Corps' Toys For Tots program.
"The first year we filled up half a bus," Shaggy said.
Last year, that number jumped to 15 stuffed school buses and he's on track to match or beat that this year.
"I just love it because I know for a fact that this is working and there are kids in Hampton Roads getting gifts for Christmas because of this," Shaggy said.
To pull this off, Shaggy sleeps in the school buses at one location, then it's off to the next. Each year, he spends all week in the buses. This year, the buses have been parked at Peninsula Town Center in Hampton, Walmart on Virginia Beach Boulevard, Patrick Henry Mall in Newport News, Toys R Us at Lynnhaven Mall, and this year's campaign ends Friday at Janaf Shopping Center in Norfolk. Listeners, community groups and VIPs have come out to donate toys.
Shaggy admits it's cold sleeping on those school buses for a week, but it warms his heart when he sees cars pull up and people donate bags and bags of toys or companies donate checks to Toys For Tots.
" The thought of a child waking up Christmas morning and the kid makes honor roll and he does everything right and he doesn't have a gift, that doesn't sit right with me," Shaggy said. "This is what our community is about. We're about giving, we're about taking care of our neighbor, we're about making sure that no matter what is going on in the country, in the world, we stand to make a difference."
