Generous shoppers at Hillcrest Village mall helped the Surrey RCMP fill a SUV patrol vehicle several days in a row with donations for the Cloverdale Christmas Hamper Program after the call went out that the charity might run short this year.
Members from the Cloverdale community office collected 750 pounds of food on the first day they were there, and the donations keep pouring in.
“It’s been unbelievable,” mall manager Jen Temple said. “It’s just been great.”
Local RCMP volunteers continued their “Pack the Police Car” presence at the mall over the weekend and have promised to keep at it daily to Dec. 24.
The Cloverdale hamper program has now wrapped up for another year, but the RCMP’s donation drive will continue to Christmas Eve in support of another local cause – the Surrey Food Bank, which operates year-round.
“They’ve done amazing,” Temple said. “Just yesterday alone they collected $510 in cash.”
The Price Smart Foods at 18710 Fraser Highway is one of three locations where Surrey RCMP have been collecting donations for
more than a week as part of the 12-Days of Giving in support of local food banks. The RCMP are also at the Save-On-Foods locations at 3033 152 Street in South Surrey and at 7320 King George Blvd.
The top items requested by the Surrey Food Bank include large cans of powdered baby formula, canned fish and meat, healthy breakfast cereals, canned stews, canned vegetables and fruit, wholegrain pasta, pasta sauces, canned and dry soups, and macaroni and cheese.
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