COLD LAKE - The 'Pack a Police Car' campaign in Cold Lake is taking place on Saturday, collecting food and cash donations to help those in need.
The initiative strives to encourage community members to contribute essential items and non-perishable goods, which are then loaded into police cruisers and distributed to those in need.
Donations are being collected on Dec. 2 at Sobeys and No Frills in Cold Lake. Various emergency and other authorities, including peace officers, RCMP, Fish and Wildlife, and Alberta Health Services security, had vehicles stationed at both locations.
The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cash donations collected through the campaign are directed to Cold Lake Victim Services to help families in the area.
“What we do is that we work together with the RCMP on this, and we get families that could really use a hand. We help them out through gift cards. We’ve got their wish lists. That's what we do with the cash donations,” explains Dave Zimmerman, program manager of victim services.
The Cold Lake Food Bank also came up with a selection of items that would be considered meaningful donations. These include canned foods, diapers, baby formula, whole grain cereal, feminine hygiene products, and toiletries. All the contributions play a vital role helping individuals and families facing hardship within the community, according to the Cold Lake Food Bank.
“The community has always stepped up, even in tough times we’ve experienced and have always donated to this cause, they can choose [to donate to] either or they can choose both,” says Zimmerman.
