Parksville Fire Captain Mark Adelborg has his big boot ready to be filled with generous donations from the community. (Parksville Fire Department)

By Jordan Davidson

fill them up!

Oceanside Fire Departments stepping up for their ‘Fill the Boots’ food drive

Nov 19, 2022 | 6:28 AM

NANAIMO — Fresh off one of the most successful fundraising campaigns in their history, fire departments in the Oceanside region are bringing back their ‘Fill the Boots for Food Drive.’

The Parksville Fire Department raised just over $93,000 in cash and 3,676 pounds of food last year alone.

Chief Marc Norris said their popular campaign has changed over the years, with the pandemic forcing them to forgo their traditional door-to-door campaign.

“Boots for Food aims to fill the boots with cash donations to go to the local food banks, and the folks that supply toys over the Christmas season, to support their efforts. For every dollar we raise, it means it’s either tripled or quadruped in the amount of food the food banks can buy.”

On Saturday, Nov. 19 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m and on Sunday, Nov. 20 from 8 a.m. until noon, firefighters will be set up in various locations “shaking their boots” for donations.

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Donations of new, unwrapped toys will go to the Society of Organized Services Caring for Communities at Christmas program, while the cash donations will go to the local Salvation Army food bank.

Norris said food banks can really stretch those monetary donations.

“We will take food donations, but the food banks with cash can direct that to where they most need it. So if they need certain types of food or certain types of other supplies, then they can go there and they can buy it with cash. The cash just goes further, allows them to help more people.”

Parksville firefighters will be located at Wembley Mall, Corfield Plaza, Quality Foods, and Cascadia Liquor, as well as the BC Liquor Store at the old Quality Foods location both days.

“They’re are food stores, people are going there and it’s front of mind for people when they are there,’ Norris said. “They’re busy locations, good spots for us to interact with the public.”

The first widespread food drive was held in 1997, and now includes eight departments in the region, such as Bow Horn Bay, Dashwood, Errington, and Nanoose Bay.

Norris said they see tremendous support for this event every year and it has grown into their signature fundraising campaign.

“Our membership is really tied to this and devoted to it. Mostly, we want to be able to support our community and this is one of the ways we do that. I’ve been doing this for over 20 years now…it’s very important to our members.”

More information on where other Oceanside fire departments will be set up collecting donations can be found here.

— with files from Ian Holmes

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow