A 12-day campaign to boost area food bank stocks collected more than $15,000 in cash and some six tons of food by the time it wound down on Dec. 24.
Surrey RCMP's Pack the Police Car effort invited the public to donate to area food banks by dropping off cash and non-perishables to patrol cars parked at three Surrey grocery stores: South Point Save-on-Foods in South Surrey, PriceSmart at 18710 Fraser Hwy., and Save-on-Foods in Newton (100-7320 King George Blvd.).
Surrey RCMP employees were also able to boost the take to more than $18,000, thanks to various fundraising initiatives at the detachment.
"This is a tremendous showing of support from the community," said Marilyn Herrmann, executive director of the Surrey Food Bank.
"Working with great community partners such as the Surrey RCMP helps us raise our profile and donations to ensure that no one goes hungry at this time of year."
"We are just the conduit through which the generous citizens of Surrey were able to give to this great cause," said Surrey RCMP Insp. Gary Begg.
"We are happy to initiate this campaign and look forward to doing it again next year."
Launched Dec. 13, the campaign met with positive response almost instantly.
As early as Dec. 20, $2,200 cash and 700 lbs of food had been dropped off at the South Surrey site; $2,300 cash and 1,300 lbs of food in Newton; and $2,800 in cash and 3,800 lbs of food in Cloverdale.
Begg and Herrmann offer a reminder that food bank needs don't just end at Christmas – and the Surrey Food Bank accepts donations all year long, not just during the holidays.
For more information on how to help, visit www.surreyfoodbank.org