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Lake Cowichan Fire Department drive helps hamper program

Food and toy drive: Lake firefighters will collect food, cash, toys at Country Grocer; Fire Safety House on site Saturday for the kids

This weekend, the Lake Cowichan Fire Department is making it a little easier to support the Christmas hamper program with a two-day food and toy drive.

Firefighters will be collecting donations of food, toys and cash this Friday (Dec. 13) from 5-9 p.m. and Saturday (Dec. 14) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Country Grocer. All donations go to the Cowichan Lake Community Services for their Christmas hamper program.

This is the sixth year for the fire department’s drive, and Lieut. Steve Johnson says they have raised roughly $10,500 in cash so far, plus toys and food.

“We’re just little elves,” he said. “It’s just an avenue for people to drop off stuff. We found people are waiting for us now to drop stuff off. They come every year. It’s a good thing.”

The food and toy drive started as an idea brought up at one of their meetings, explained Johnson.

“We thought Community Services needed a hand,” he said.

During the food and toy drive, the new Fire Safety House sponsored by the Cowichan Valley Chiefs Association will be set up for the first time. Be among the first to see the new house Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Country Grocer.