Despite the poor economy during the holiday season Innisfailians continued to show their generosity last Saturday – a record-setting day of giving at the 20th annual Charity Check Stop.
Hundreds dropped off food, clothing, toys and cash on Dec. 12 during the Charity Check Stop, an event that was created two decades ago by former local Mountie Const. Woody Woodfine.
Carole Sim, the coordinator at the food bank, said her agency received 1,286 pounds (lbs.) of food, which is a record for the event.
“That's is the biggest food drive I have ever seen from the Charity Check Stop, and I have been here 15 years,” said Sim, noting her agency collected 782 lbs. last year. She added the food bank also received 1,350 lbs. of food from the Atom DQ Flyers hockey tournament last weekend at the arena, and an additional 175 lbs. from a peewee hockey tourney in Bowden. The food bank also received a cheque of 871 last week from the owners and staff at Fourlane Ford.
Innisfail RCMP Const. Anne Marie Durette, the detachment's school resource officer who organized this year's milestone event, said at the end of the day volunteers had also counted 50 large bags of clothing and four full pickup trucks of toys. She said $10,865.70 in cash was collected, which was down from last year when more than $12,000 was donated.
The Dec. 12 event went from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Main Street between 48th and 49th avenues. A score of volunteers helped out, including those from the Innisfail RCMP, Innisfail Fire Department and many from local businesses.
All proceeds went to the food bank, Christmas Bureau, Women's Outreach Society and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Innisfail.
“The generosity this year has been amazing. Yes, some years have been slow but they keep coming in. We are very thankful. There are lots of pounds of good food here,” said Gord Russell, a longtime food bank volunteer. “A lot of families are going to be very happy this year.”
Durette said a big part of the Charity Check Stop's success this year was from the help she received in organizing the event, which was her first one following her arrival to town earlier this year.
“I can't really base it from the ones before but I am glad that Const. Chris Lavery, who was the school resource officer last year, helped me out a lot to set up everything, as well as Patty Connon who works at the (detachment) front desk and is also a Victim Services advocate,” said Durette. “The businesses are very generous even though economically it is a very tough time.
“I am very happy with all the donations and some of the stores, including The Gift Loft, which gave us some coupons,” she added. “It is a great response. I think a lot of the people who show up enjoy being here to help and volunteer.”
Gord Russell
"The generosity this year has been amazing. Yes, some years have been slow but they keep coming in. We are very thankful. There are lots of pounds of good food here."
