They saw; they stopped; they gave.
On Dec. 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., hundreds of cars and trucks drove down Main Street Innisfail and took the centre lane to where volunteers from the Innisfail Fire Department, the RCMP, Christmas bureau, Innisfail and Area Food Bank, restorative justice, and other service groups eagerly accepted donations of food, gifts, and funds.
“We had a great response,” said Innisfail RCMP Const. Chris Lavery. “The weather has been good and people have been generous.”
Local businesses such as Nestle Purina, Co-op, 7-11, A&W, Dairy Queen, Subway, Tim Hortons, Innisfail ESSO, McDonald's, Innisfail Bowling Lanes and the Innisfail Legion helped make the event a success with donators receiving a coupon and a candy can for their generosity.
Carol Sim of the Innisfail and Area Food Bank noted her initial estimates for food were close to last year's total of 775 pounds with possibly as much as 800 pounds for the organization this year.
“With all the food drives lately, I won't have a final number for a few days,” said Sim. “However, the people of Innisfail and area have been incredibly generous.”
By 1 p.m., the Christmas bureau had one truckload of gifts and a second was nearly full to the brim with more expected.
The toys and clothes went to the The Innisfail and District Christmas Bureau while the food was picked up by the Innisfail and 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.
Carol Sim
"However, the people of Innisfail and are have been incredibly generous."
