Local firefighters will be out in full force next month to help collect money, toys, and food donations for families in need this holiday season.
The return of the Firefighters for Families campaign will take place on Dec. 13 this year, and features members of both the Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows fire departments visiting various locations to do a lot of fundraising.
“Our firefighters show us the true spirit of the season – service, generosity and goodwill,” said Pitt Meadows Mayor Nicole MacDonald. “Each year, the Firefighters for Families campaign collects food donation for the Friends in Need Food Bank and toys for the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Christmas Hamper Society. It is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together to support our neighbours.”
“Every dollar, every toy and every can of food collected will brighten the holidays for families in Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge,” said MacDonald. “I am grateful to the Friends in Need Food Bank, Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Christmas Hamper Society, our career, paid-on-call and retired firefighters, and to every resident and community member who steps forward to give this season.”
The demand is high, according to the Friends in Need Food Bank, which is seeing both more households needing help, and donors stressed by high food prices and cost of living.
In Maple Ridge, the following locations will have fundraising firefighters from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.:
• Save-On Foods (23981 Dewdney Trunk Rd.)
• Save-On Foods (22703 Lougheed Hwy.)
• Save-On Foods (20395 Lougheed Hwy.)
• FreshCo (20201 Lougheed Hwy.)
• Canadian Tire (11969 200th St.)
• No Frills (22427 Dewdney Trunk Rd.)
In Pitt Meadows:
• Real Canadian Superstore (19800 Lougheed Hwy.)
• Tim Hortons (19800 Lougheed Hwy.)
• Save-On Foods (19150 Lougheed Hwy.)
• Shoppers Drug Mart (19150 Lougheed Hwy.)
Pitt Meadows firefighters may be other locations, also from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
All of the non-perishable food donations will go to the Friends in Need Food Bank, with all new toys going to the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Christmas Hamper Society. All cash donations are split between the two organizations.
When the CKPC Holiday Train makes its stops in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows on Dec. 19, the members of the fire departments and their Youth Academy participate at the event collecting food and money for the Friends in Need Food Bank. A cheque from the Firefighters for Families campaign will be presented on stage – more than $10,000 last year.