Wheeling, W. Va. - For the third year in a row, the Wheeling University Athletics Department is giving back to local families with their third annual Stuff the Truck Event. The Cardinals are accepting donations of non-perishable food items that will be donated to Catholic Charities Food Pantry to help local families in need this Thanksgiving. The truck will be parked in the Alma Grace McDonough Center parking lot on the weekend of November 13th - 15th, with special events surrounding the weekend, including the annual "The Battle for Wheeling on the gridiron when Wheeling Football takes on West Liberty on Saturday.
Over the last two years, the Wheeling University Athletic Department has combined to donate over 1,200 pounds of food to Catholic Charities, with the 2025 event being their best showing yet. Wheeling would partner with the Kroger on Mount DeChantal road to donate 700 pounds of food to Catholic Charities' food pantry. It was a two weekend event a year ago, with the truck being parked at Kroger from November 7th - 9th, with shoppers donating items throughout the weekend. Then, the event rolled to Wheeling with three home games seeing fans bring donations. Those donations then went to Catholic Charities, where it was donated into the charities' food pantry and distributed to those in need across the Ohio Vally Area.
This year's Stuff the Truck event will be centered around the annual "The Battle for Wheeling" on the football field, with Wheeling Football taking on West Liberty on Saturday, November 14 at noon. Fans attending the game are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable food items, including canned vegetables, cereal, boxed pasta, and anything else with a long shelf life. The Wheeling University van will be parked in the Alma Grace McDonough Center and will be loaded with items for donation. Along with the football game on Saturday, the department is planning a special "Wheeling Gameday Live" pep rally on Friday to kick-off the event. Just like ESPN's "College Gameday Live" there will be a live taping of the Wheeling Football pregame show, with activities planned for those in attendance.
All donations from the weekend will be taken to Catholic Charities, the largest provider of social services in West Virginia. Every year, they provide help to tens of thousands of vulnerable West Virginias, serving 55 counties across the state. Their mission is to collaborate with community partners, parishes, and families to provide caring and compassionate services to people in need and to work towards lasting and meaningful change. The Wheeling location is located at 125 18th street, and provides services to those in need around the community. Their food pantry is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 AM – 1 PM to help individuals and families in Ohio and Marshall counties in West Virginia and Belmont County in Ohio.
The 2026 Stuff the Truck event will be held from Friday, November 13 through Sunday, November 15 in the Alma Grace McDonough Center Parking Lot.
