The three local fire departments on the Saanich Peninsula are once again teaming up to fight hunger this holiday season.
On Saturday, Dec. 15 all three fire departments — Central Saanich, North Saanich and Sidney — will be out in their respective communities collecting food, cash donations and other items for the Sidney Lions Food Bank.
“It’s always been a little bit of a competition to see who can raise the most,” laughed Rob Syverson of the Central Saanich Fire Department, adding that there’s even a trophy — made of cans — that’s awarded to the winning department each year.
This year the CSFD will be dropping off brown paper bags in advance to Central Saanich residents to give people a chance to prepare for the 15th.
“We’re going to be dropping the bags off Wednesday and Thursday next week, that way people can fill them and leave them out if they aren’t going to be home during the food drive,” explained Syverson.
“We will also all be accepting food and cash donations at all of our respective stations as well so if people miss the drive in any municipality they can just drop their donations off,” added Sidney Fire Department’s Fire Inspector Jeff Tomlin.
Syverson noted that Central Saanich residents can find a route map on the municipal website at www.centralsaanich.ca.
“We’ll be out from 1 to 4 p.m. that day so people have advance notice of when we’re coming,” he said, adding that all departments are looking for canned and dry goods, personal hygiene items or cash donations.
Tomlin said that Sidney residents can keep an eye out for the fire trucks along main roads in Sidney from 4 to 8 p.m. and North Saanich Fire Chief Gary Wilton said the team will be cruising the streets of Dean Park collecting donations from 1:30 to 4 p.m.