Image Credit: Olsen Imaging
CP HOLIDAY TRAIN

CP Holiday Train brings in $50,000 for Kamloops Food Bank

Dec 16, 2019 | 12:58 PM

KAMLOOPS — Records were broken on Sunday as hundreds of Kamloops residents came out to enjoy the CP Holiday Train.

The Kamloops Food Bank says thanks to the record turnout, nearly 6,000 pounds of food and $50,000 was collected for the Kamloops Food Bank from the event.

“We had a record amount of donations walk into that park last night. Honestly, two of our trucks were so loaded down, we were worried about weight on the way back to the food bank,” said executive director of the Kamloops Food Bank Bernadette Siracky.

Terri Clark and Canadian Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year Dallas Smith entertained the crowd on Sunday night. The 21st year of the CP Holiday Train pulled into Kamloops around 4:30, bringing a record number of people out.

“The stars aligned for this. It was at a perfect time, 4:30 on Sunday with amazing weather. It was zero degrees out and people came literally by the thousands. When we stood on the train and looked out, the crowd went from The Keg to the water markers. We anticipate there was almost 4,000 people last night,” noted Siracky.

On Monday, employees and volunteers at the Wilson Street location were busy organizing the donations, which Bernadette Siracky says will sustain the food bank through the winter.

“We are feeling so full here that we’re probably good until the spring food drive.”

In addition to food donations, the Kamloops Food Bank brought home $50,000 in total donations. The money included contributions from CP, business donations, as well as a raffle that was set up for a Riversong guitar. The food bank says the crowd on Sunday night pitched in $8,000.