SURREY — Surrey Mounties are hoping generous folk will help them "Pack the Police Car" with food and gifts to help families in need over the Christmas holidays.
During the first two weeks of December the Surrey RCMP will stage six patrol car-packing events throughout the city, hoping donors will fill the vehicle with non-perishable food, gifts and cash donations to help support local food banks and charity programs.
"We know that food bank usage continues to grow exponentially and that this time of year can be especially difficult for some people in our community," Surrey RCMP Corporal Scotty Schumann said. "While we encourage people to donate to food banks and charities all year long, we're hoping to make the holidays a little brighter by packing our police cars full of food and donations for those less fortunate."
They're hoping to collect grocery gift cards, powdered baby formula, canned protein, peanut butter, milk powder, hot and cold cereals, meals in a tin, canned fruits and vegetables, whole-grain pasta and rice, pasta sauces, macaroni and cheese and new unwrapped toys.
Here's where they'll be, and when:
Whalley/City Centre (supporting Surrey Food Bank) on Dec. 1, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Save On Foods at 10312 King George Blvd., and on Dec. 7, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Safeway, at 10355 King George Blvd.
Newton (supporting Surrey Food Bank) on Dec. 2 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Save On Foods (7320 King George Blvd.) and Dec. 10 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Superstore (7550 King George Blvd.)
Cloverdale (supporting the Cloverdale Christmas Hamper) on Dec. 3 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Save On Foods (18710 Fraser Highway) and Dec. 9 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Save On Foods (17745 64th Ave.)
Guildford/Fleetwood (supporting Surrey Food Bank) on Dec. 5 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Superstore (14650 104th Ave.) and Dec. 8 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Nesters Market (112-16033 108th Ave.)
South Surrey (supporting Sources Food Bank) on Dec. 6 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Superstore (2332 160th St.) and Dec. 12 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Save On Foods (1641 152nd St.)
Surrey RCMP Main Detachment (supporting Surrey Food Bank) on Dec. 13 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., at 14355 57th Ave.)
tom.zytaruk@thenownewspaper.com