Lake Cowichan firefighters will be busy Friday and Saturday, collecting toys and food and even cooking up breakfast to help the local food bank.
Everything will be happening outside Country Grocer.
It all starts on Friday, Dec. 11 with the first leg of a two-day toy and food drive.
From 5 p.m. until about 8:30 p.m. Lake Cowichan folks are being encouraged to bring the family and new unwrapped toys or other gifts for kids and teens.
Hot dogs are also available for those looking for a treat, by donation.
On Saturday morning, Dec. 12, the firefighters are cooking breakfast at Country Grocer. All they ask for at the brekkie is a donation of cash or a non-perishable food item.
The fire department is doing all of this in one place this year, according to Fire Chief Doug Knott.
“We did a breakfast at our hall last year on a Sunday but we discussed it and decided that it would be more compact if we did it this way,” he said.
After the breakfast, it’s back to the toy drive.
They’re looking for unwrapped toys, too, which makes it easy for even the most fumble-fingered to donate.
“Community Services wants to view them and age them, so they need to be unwrapped,” Knott said.
If you can’t make it to the toy drive, there’s a pick-up service, too.
Call Steve at 250-749-4192 or Ray at 250-749-3955 if you want a firefighter to swing by and pick up your donations.
“We will also be going around town as a reminder and people may also be able to donate right into a truck, too,” Knott added.