Mounties get ready for 21st Charity Check Stop

Innisfail RCMP are in full preparation mode for this year's 21st annual Charity Check Stop.

The holiday season event will be held on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Main Street, between 48th and 49th avenues.

“Due to the generosity of the community, the Charity Check Stop has proven to be increasingly more successful every year,” said Innisfail RCMP Const. Simon Watson. “Let's not make this year an exception.”

RCMP officers and volunteers will man the Charity Check Stop, which will be highly visible with plenty of flashing red and blue lights. Donations will be accepted from both east- and westbound traffic. Safety Bear will be attending to hand out candy canes. People not wishing to donate will be able to easily proceed through the Check Stop, said Watson.

“This year's Charity Check Stop will once again be accepting clothing, food, new clothing and new toys, and cash,” said Watson. “In this season of giving and celebrating let's provide as much help as we can to those less fortunate. Help donate and make this Christmas season a great one for everyone.”

Watson said proceeds from this year's Charity Check Stop will be donated to the Innisfail and District Food Bank, the Christmas Bureau, Women's Outreach Society and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Prairies to Peaks.

Last year's 20th annual Charity Check Stop proved to be a record-setting day for the Innisfail RCMP and the community.

Carole Sim, the coordinator at the food bank, said her agency received 1,286 pounds of food, which was a record. Local Mounties counted 50 large bags of clothing and four full pickup trucks of toys. A total of $10,865.70 in cash was collected, which was down from the previous year when more than $12,000 was donated.

For more information on this year's Dec. 17 Charity Check Stop call Watson at the Innisfail RCMP detachment at 403-227-3342.