Residents are invited to stuff a community peace officer cruiser full of food bank items on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
Three cruisers will be parked around town to accept donations — one at Sobeys, one at Co-op, and one at No Frills — between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
It’s an event that many look forward to every year, says Kayla Whissell, community peace officer.
“We hope every single year gets better than the last,” says Whissell. “That has been true since we started.”
Despite challenges in the community, Whissell says the event has indeed grown bigger each year. In 2023, she says 3,600 pounds of food were donated, along with $4,636 in cash. That total was much higher than the inaugural year of 2018, when 2,039 pounds of food were donated, along with $3,350 in cash.
Participants at the 2022 Stuff The Cruiser in Rocky Mountain House. (Protective Services/Town of Rocky Mountain House)
The event serves as a key fundraiser, as demand at the food bank is higher than at any time since the difficult year of 2016, says David Mark Carter, executive director of the Lord’s Food Bank.
Pressures such as rent increases, benefit clawbacks, and tax hikes are causing more people to access food bank programs, he says.
“I’m really concerned that people won’t be able to donate like they have in previous years,” says Carter. “A lot of people who used to be in a good position to donate are probably thinking about calling us now.”
Carter says 126 families visited the food bank — 18 of which were new to the community.
Participants at the 2022 Stuff The Cruiser in Rocky Mountain House. (Protective Services/Town of Rocky Mountain House)
If anyone is struggling to make ends meet, Carter encourages people to reach out to the Lord’s Food Bank. Conversely, he says those who are in a more stable situation can consider donating this year.
Items most needed at the food bank include canned fruit, soup, vegetables, and meat, as well as peanut butter and boxed pasta. Toiletries and laundry supplies are also in high demand.
The Lord’s Food Bank is located at 4911 52 St. Cl. in Rocky Mountain House.
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(Protective Services/Town of Rocky Mountain House)
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