Two days of collections turn Fill-A-Bus into the Full-A-Bus

CHAMPION
Champion staff pose with Councillor Nicole Boutestein, Skjersven, Santa Clause and more than 2,900 pounds of pet food donated to the Food Bank. – Submitted Photo

by Morinville News Staff

Morinville – A much heavier Morinville Community Bus groaned over the weigh scales Thursday and Friday night after two consecutive days of collecting food throughout the community. Organizers of this year’s annual Fill-A-Bus were hoping to outdo last year’s total of 7,032 pounds of food and $2,610 in cash donations collected for the Morinville Food Bank Society. Those expectations and goals were not disappointed as Morinvillians of all ages rose to the occasion to support the cause. This year’s initiative collected 7,255 pounds of food and $3,131 in cash donations, as well as 2,939 pounds of pet food, the latter donated by Champion Petfoods.

Ken Skjersven of the Morinville Food Bank Society said he was pleased with this year’s totals. “ It’s just fantastic,” he said. “These people are fantastic.”

Skjersen was not alone in being delighted with the response. Town of Morinville employee Melodie Steele, who organized the event, was also thrilled with the response and expressed her gratitude at the many donations and sid the generosity of Morinville residents knows no bounds.

The Fill-A-Bus hit the road Thursday morning, collecting food items from Morinville schools and businesses. The bus made the rounds to Morinville Public Elementary School, Ecole Notre Dame Elementary, Morinville Christian School, and Morinville Community High School, each location trotting out loads of food donations for the cause carried by enthusiastic students. In between school visits the bus hit a number of local businesses, including Putnam and Lawson, Capital Vision Care, The Morinville Chamber office, Servus Credit Union, H&R Block, Spiker Equipment and RV City. On Friday the bus, town staff, Food Bank Society members, community volunteers, and Santa Claus set up at No Frills in the morning and at Sobeys in the afternoon, giving residents an opportunity to pick up a little something along with their own grocery needs.

Steele said the food and funds will go a long way to helping the Morinville Food Bank Society in meeting their needs this Christmas season and beyond. With the holiday season approaching, the food bank can still use more. A collection will be taken Dec. 19 at the Community Christmas Celebration at St. Jean Baptiste Church. The Food Bank is open Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information contact the Morinville Food Bank at 780-939-2636.

ROOKE
Ken Skjersven and Mayor Lisa Holmes pose with Kim and Steve Rooke. The Rooke School of Karate made a $1,000 donation to the drive, monies raised by students in the school’s Annual Karate Challenge.
– Submitted Photo

ROTARY
Henry Lameroux accepts a cheque for $500 from the Rotary club for the Knights of Columbus Hamper Program. – Submitted Photo

NO FRILLS
Santa poses with Chris and Tracy Mansbridge, owners of Chris and Tracy’s No Frills, and their donation to the cause. A generous donation was also received from Sobeys Morinville.
– Submitted Photo

fill-a-bus3
Santa accepted a $1,500 cheque on behalf of the Morinville Food Bank Thursday afternoon from Lorry Spiker and Daryl Wolfram of Spiker Equipment in Morinville’s industrial park. – Lucie Roy Photo

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1 Comment

  1. WOW – What an awesome job – Thank you Santa, Melodie and all the volunteers! Special thanks to all who donated food and money.

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