Food and Toy Drive

Thank you for your generosity!

Once again, Parksville Fire Rescue’s Fill the 2022 Boots for Food drive was a huge success thanks to the generosity of the community. Firefighters were at locations throughout Parksville. A total of $85,353.90 in cash was collected over the weekend along with new unwrapped toys for the Society of Organized Services. Craig Bay residents stepped up again donating $55,355 in cash and 2,692 pounds of food.

Each year, residents in the Parksville Fire Protection Area generously support the annual drive and are the reason this campaign is successful. Parksville Fire Rescue appreciates the generosity of our residents who make the world of difference to many families in our community.

Quote Chief Marc Norris
“On behalf of Parksville Fire Rescue members, my sincere thanks to the residents of the Parksville Fire Protection Area for your generosity and for the support of Canadian Tire, Save on Foods, Thrifty’s, Quality Foods and BC liquor stores. Captain Mark Adelborg and our members should be extremely proud of the results and the difference their efforts continue to make in our community.”

Twenty-Four Years of PFR Food and Toy Drives

1998 The first food and toy drive for Parksville Fire Rescue was held to help stock the Salvation Army's shelves for Christmas. In the inaugural year, 5,000 pounds of food were collected.

1999 Organized by members Scott Baillie, Dave Urquhart and John Mentanko, 9,200 pounds of food collected.

2000 12,182 pounds of food collected with the bulk of the donations used for Christmas hampers at the SOS and the remaining contributions used in the food bank and soup kitchen.

2001 26,000 pounds of food collected. This was a combined total of local departments including Parksville, Qualicum Beach and Dashwood Volunteer Fire Departments

2002 11,000 pounds of food collected by PFR.

2003 10,000 pounds of food collected by PFR.

2004 10,500 pounds of food collected by PFR. The Salvation Army was able to provide 600 Christmas hampers helping over 1,400 men, women and children in the community.

2005 9,500 pounds of food collected by PFR.

2006 10,000 pounds of food collected by PFR.

2007 16,860 pounds of food collected by PFR, a significant increase in donations and the best year to date. The Salvation Army Church kindly donated breakfast for members volunteering to collect donations door to door. This has now become an annual tradition.

2008 17,229 pounds of food collected by PFR. Arrowsmith Search & Rescue joined the event.

2009 23,000 pounds of food collected by PFR and a new record.

2010

2011 18,300 pounds collected by PFR. After being the Parksville food and toy drive coordinator for about ten years, Scott Baillie passed the role to Liz Olson.

2012 21,080 pounds collected by PFR. This was the first year Craig Bay Residents Association did their own collection as part of the PFR food drive, collecting in excess of 3,000 pounds of food.

2013 25,500 pounds of food collected by PFR. Cash donations were significant this year, $4,500.

2014 23,300 pounds of food collected by PFR and cash donations increased to $ 5,000.

2015 A record year with 27,000 pounds of food and cash donations of $10,525. The cash donations go a long way to stocking shelves at the Salvation Army food bank. Quality Foods has been a huge supporter of the food drive since its inception doubled the value of the cash in-store when the food bank purchases food at their stores with the donated cash.

2016 22,000 pounds of food collected and $12,000 in cash

2017 By far the most successful food and toy drive in PFR history with 38,870 pounds of food and $21,000 in cash. The efforts over the past three years to get stratas and apartments involved proved to be instrumental to the increasing success.

2018 This year's Food and Toy Drive was once again a tremendous success with 26,720 pounds of food collected and $27,217.30 in cash donations. This year marks twenty years of helping local families in need.

2019 This 2019 drive collected an amazing 29,500 pounds of food and $34,073.57 in cash.

2020 This 2020 drive collected an amazing 2,000 pounds of food and $75,644 in cash. No door-to-door collection due to COVID-19. Cash donations only with some food donations directly to the Salvation Army.

2021 A total of $93,464 cash and 3,676 pounds of food was collected for the Salvation Army along with new unwrapped toys for the Society of Organized.

2022 A total of $85,353.90 cash and 2,692 pounds of food was collected for the Salvation Army along with new unwrapped toys for the Society of Organized.