The Sylvan Lake R.C.M.P. Charity Check Stop was once again successful last Saturday with the fire department, R.C.M.P., Sylvan Lake and District Victim Services and the Town’s conservation officers collecting toys, food and around $9,000.
The money collected this year is down from last year due to the decline in the economy said Sylvan Lake and District Victim Services program coordinator Jennifer Plotnikoff, but people still donated from their hearts.
She said the amount of toys and food donated for the food bank were also down as well but it was still a good day.
“I think people were giving but they were giving less,” Plotnikoff said. “It’s very moving to watch the citizens of Sylvan Lake donate.”
She said people were driving through and donating anywhere from a few dollars to larger amounts such as $50 or $100.
But no matter how much people donated every dollar helps.
“Everything helps,” Plotnikoff said. “It’s really nice of everybody to help.”
She said people were happy to donate, with the majority of people saying they would be back with donations and eventually returned to drop off toys and food.
Four sports tickets were even donated this year.
The down turn in the economy has hit everyone hard said Plotnikoff and the Christmas Bureau has had a significant increase of families applying for help.
But never the less the community still gave back which will help to spread the season’s cheer.
“It’s very moving to see them dropping toys off and groceries and stuff like that,” Plotnikoff said.
This is Plotnikoff’s 15th year of doing the charity check stop and said it was great to see how active the firefighters and R.C.M.P. were in giving out goodies to children.
They gave out little gifts such as hats, hockey sticks and little finger print kits to children.
Plotnikoff wished to thank not only everyone who donated time, toys and food during the check stop but also those who volunteered to organize the event and collect donations on the day of.
“It’s the community support,” Plotnikoff said. “Everybody wants to help everybody. Everything helps. It’s pretty heart warming when you see people give.”
reporter@sylvanlakenews.com