It was record-breaking Innisfail generosity for the RCMP's 18th Annual Charity Check Stop.
The event, held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 14 on Main Street, collected a total of $11,630.57 in cash and cheques. That was $2,200 more than last year's previous best of $9,400.
As well, the Charity Check Stop received more than four and a half truckloads of toys, two truckloads of clothes and 775 pounds of food.
The toys and clothes went to the The Innisfail and District Christmas Bureau while the food was picked up by the Innisfail & Area Food Bank. The money was split evenly between the food bank, the Christmas Bureau, Central Alberta Women's Outreach Society and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Innisfail.
Innisfail RCMP Const. Chris Lavery, who spearheaded this year's Charity Check Stop, called the event “a great success.
“It was fantastic to see. The generosity of people was incredible,” said Lavery. “Even as we were packing up at 4 p.m. people were still stopping to donate money.
“Even when I got back to the detachment with the police truck somebody was waiting at the detachment because they missed it and wanted to make sure they donated money,” he added. “To see stuff like that was quite incredible.”
Lavery also said many local organizations and businesses were responsible for the success of this year's Charity Check Stop, including Nestle Purina, Co-op, 7-11, A&W, Dairy Queen, Subway, Tim Hortons, Innisfail ESSO, McDonald's, Innisfail Bowling Lanes and the Innisfail Legion.
He added that numerous volunteers from several organizations also made significant contributions, including those from Victim Services, the Innisfail Fire Department, Guardian Ambulance, Innisfail Peace Officers, Citizens on Patrol, Innisfail Restorative Justice, Christmas Bureau, food bank, women's outreach and S.O.S. entertainment for providing Christmas music.
