For some 35 years, the first responders in Port Elgin and Southampton (Saugeen Shores) have stepped up at Christmas holiday time collecting food and toys to meet the need in the community.
Lorne Currie, retired from the Fire Service and an original co-ordinator for the Food and Toy Drive event, said that, “Even before amalgamation, we across all the services, knew that we had to give back to the community,” said Currie. “There are always those who are in need and those of us who have a little more have to step up.”
This year (2022), organized by Paramedic Brittney Kealey, the Police, Fire and EMS services of Saugeen Shores all turned out once again to meet the demand.
On Saturday, December 10th, fire trucks, police vehicles and ambulances, with lights flashing, waited at Mowbray’s Canadian Tire, Vanderwerf’s Independent Grocer, Southampton Foodland and WalMart, as customers leaving the stores donated food and toys that will be distributed throughout the community and they weren’t disappointed. At each location, the volunteers were amazed at the response.
Carts were filled with toys at Canadian Tire, at Vanderwerf’s Independent Grocer the ambulance was “stuffed” to the doors and Southampton Foodland’s Food Bank donation bags filled a trailer, and at each spot customers also made cash donations.
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As service vehicles at each location were filled, volunteer Adam Kealey with local company Ackert Construction, who had donated their large enclosed trailer, made the rounds and emptied the vehicles to make room for more donations. All food and toys were eventually delivered to the Salvation Army Food Bank on Barnes Ave. in Port Elgin.
It appears that generosity continues in a caring community when it comes to helping others through what can be a difficult time of year.
The weight of the food donated is yet to be determined and the toys will be sorted this week according to age suitability.
This year’s organizer, Brittney Kealey now has the results for the 2022 food and toy drive. “We collected 3,064 lbs. of food and $5,640 in cash and gift cards,” says Kealey. “We can’t even begin to count the toys, it is simply overwhelming. This is an amazing community and an amazing group of first responders who made this a real team effort.”
