Collingwood’s volunteer firefighters are continuing more than three decades of tradition with this weekend’s food drive.
On Friday and Saturday, volunteer, full-time, and retired firefighters will be at three local grocery stores collecting food and cash donations for Salvation Army’s food bank and Christmas programs.
John Stransky, president of the Collingwood Volunteer Fire Brigade, said the holiday tradition of the firefighters’ food drive has been doing since before he joined the crew 29 years ago.
“I think a lot of firefighters just inherently want to help,” said Stransky. “This is just a bunch who want to help and there’s as much need as there’s ever been.”
The volunteer brigade will be joined by off-duty full-time firefighters, retired firefighters, and the on-duty crew when they aren’t needed on a call.
In addition to taking non-perishable food items for donation, the firefighters will have Salvation Army kettles on site with an option to tap a credit or debit card for a donation.
“Everyone wants to help, it’s a good bunch,” said Stransky, who noted the organizer for the annual drive is fellow volunteer firefighter Gord Peregrine.
"He's the engine running it," said Stransky.
The firefighters will be at Metro, Loblaws and Sobeys on Friday, Dec. 1 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There will be a drive-thru option for people wishing to donate. Just pull up to the firefighters and hand them the donation through the window.
