Neighbourhood drive-throughs and drop-offs at local fire halls will take place on Dec. 14
Sidney Fire Rescue Lt. Rick Toogood, who has assisted in organizing the Peninsula Firefighters Christmas Food Drive for the past 11 years, still recalls the year he got the most unforgettable in-person donation.
He remembers, “It wasn’t the amount of the donation but who was making it.”
“A rough-looking character rode up to the back of the fire hall and got off his bike. I recognized him and went out to find out what he needed from us. To my surprise he didn’t want anything, instead he wanted to give me some money for the food drive. That deed of kindness from someone who didn’t have much themselves but felt compelled to help, humbled me.”
Toogood is once again calling on residents to support the Christmas food drive on Saturday (Dec. 14) to help community members who rely on the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank.
“The demand is growing and we definitely need support from the community,” says Tyson Elder, the food bank’s operations manager. “Our goal is to make everyone happy and looked after.”
According to Elder, there has been a 30 per cent increase in the number of people accessing the food bank this year, mostly young families and single seniors.
Firefighters in Central Saanich, North Saanich and Sidney have been collecting donations for the past 17 years through neighbourhood drive-throughs and drop-offs at local fire halls.
In Sidney, firefighters will drive through neighbourhoods north of Beacon Avenue to collect donations from noon to 6 p.m. Residents can drop off items in the back parking lot of the Community Safety Building until Dec. 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.
In Central Saanich, firefighters will drive through Brentwood Bay, Tanner Ridge and Saanichton from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to collect donations from residents. Drop-offs can be made at the Central Saanich Fire Station No.1 and Central Saanich Municipal Hall from Dec. 9 – 13, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
In North Saanich, neighbourhood drive-throughs will take place at John Dean Park and the Eaglehurst Homes area from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Drop-offs can be made at the North Saanich Fire Hall No.1 at Wain Road and Hall No. 2 at McTavish Road until Dec. 15, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.
To find a list of the items most in need, check out splfoodbank.com/12-days-of-christmas-giving.
Due to the ongoing Canada Post strike, the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank is asking donors to make their contributions online, over the phone, or in person at 9586 Fifth St., Sidney.