Lighting the Way. Delivering Access.
This holiday season, GRTC is bringing communities together through Season of Access, a series of holiday events, community partnerships and opportunities to give back.
From lighting up Pulse stations with festive decorations in partnership with Venture Richmond to holiday gift collections and an appearance in the Richmond Christmas Parade, GRTC is spreading holiday cheer across the region.
A centerpiece of the campaign is Santa’s Got Skillz, a holiday gift drive featuring Richmond hip-hop legend and Grammy Award winner Mad Skillz. Together, we’re hitting the road with GRTC’s colorful Art Bus, featuring artwork by local Richmond artists, to collect gifts for children and teens across the region, with a special focus on ages 13–17.
Season of Access celebrates the spirit of giving while highlighting the connections GRTC makes possible all year long.
Santa’s Got Skillz
Help Stuff the Bus! Join Mad Skillz and GRTC in collecting holiday gifts for local children and teens, with a special focus on ages 13–17.
Art Bus Holiday Tour
Catch Us Around Town! GRTC’s colorful Art Bus is hitting the road, from the Richmond Christmas Parade to holiday gift collection stops across the region.
Light the Way
Deck the Stops! GRTC and Venture Richmond are bringing festive holiday lighting and decorations to select Pulse stations downtown.
Santa’s Got Skillz
Richmond hip-hop legend and Grammy Award-winning songwriter Mad Skillz has spent decades making his mark in music as a rapper, songwriter and storyteller. Now, he’s using his platform to give back to the community that helped shape him.
Inspired by the generosity he experienced growing up, including through organizations like the Boys & Girls Club, Skillz wants to bring that same holiday spirit to a new generation.
Santa’s Got Skillz is a holiday twist on a Stuff the Bus gift drive! Together, Skillz and GRTC are on a mission to fill the Art Bus with thousands of new, unwrapped gifts for local children and teens, with a special focus on ages 13–17.
And we need your help to make it happen!
Help Us Stuff the Bus! How to Participate:
- Pick up a gift. We’re collecting new, unwrapped gifts for children and teens of all ages, especially ages 13–17.
- Find the Art Bus. Visit one of our collection stops throughout the Richmond region.
- Help us stuff the bus! Bring your donation and join Skillz and GRTC in giving back to the community.
Collection Stops
Saturday, Dec. 5 | Collection Kickoff
Target | Willow Lawn | 5401 W Broad St. Richmond, VA 23230
Wednesday, Dec. 9
Dick’s Sporting Goods | Willow Lawn | 1601 Willow Lawn Dr, Richmond, VA 23230
Short Pump Towne Center | 11800 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23233
Thursday, Dec. 10
Chesterfield Towne Center | 11500 Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23235
Friday, Dec. 11
Target | White Oak Village | 4521 S. Laburnum Ave., Henrico, VA 23231
Walmart Supercenter | 5001 Nine Mile Rd, Richmond, VA 23223
Saturday, Dec. 12 | FINAL COLLECTION DAY
Location and time coming soon.
What to bring
Not sure what to donate? We’ve got some ideas!
We’re especially encouraging gifts for teens ages 13–17, who can sometimes be overlooked during holiday gift drives.
Gift ideas include:
- Headphones and portable speakers
- Art supplies and creative kits
- Sports equipment and accessories
- Board games, puzzles and card games
- Books and journals
- Personal care and self-care gift sets
- Toys and other age-appropriate gifts
Donation Guidelines
- All gifts must be new and unwrapped.
- Please choose age-appropriate items.
- Gifts for teens ages 13–17 are especially encouraged.
- Donations will benefit local children and families through our participating nonprofit partners.
Partner Organizations
Every gift collected through Santa’s Got Skillz will help brighten the holidays for children and teens across the Richmond region!
GRTC is partnering with local nonprofit organizations that serve children, teens and families in our community. These organizations will receive the donated gifts and distribute them directly to the children and families they support, helping ensure your generosity reaches those who need it most.
Our community partners include:
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond
- Peter Paul Development Center
- Ronald McDonald House Charities of Richmond
- ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation
Share the Gift of Access
The best gifts aren’t always wrapped!
All year round, GRTC delivers the gift of access throughout the Richmond region.
Through GRTC’s Open Access service, everyone can ride without paying a fare, connecting people to jobs, education, healthcare, loved ones and opportunities across our community.
You can help keep those connections going! By supporting the Transit Access Partnership (TAP), you’re helping sustain Open Access transit and investing in a more connected region.