March 4, 2009
BC Ambulance Service (BCAS) employees from Prince George kept the tradition alive last December when they joined forces with Save on Foods for the second annual BCAS food drive in support of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. A resounding success, the initiative raised $20,000 dollars in non-perishable items for food bank operations; double the amount raised in 2007.
Organized by BCAS paramedics Rob Pritchard, Jim Vanderploeg and Shawn Morash, the fundraiser took place over two weekends and saw BCAS paramedics, staff from the BCAS Northern Regional Administrative Office and family and friends of the BCAS brave minus 30 degree weather to collect donations for the charity's food hamper and soup kitchen programs.
During the campaign, BCAS volunteers greeted holiday shoppers outside two Save on Foods locations and encouraged them to donate items to the cause. In addition to assisting with the collection of hamper items, BCAS also supplied an ambulance to transport the groceries to the Society's storage area where they could be sorted and distributed to the underprivileged of Prince George.
Rob, Jim and Shawn would like to thank the dedicated BCAS volunteers and partners at Save on Foods and Vista radio group for their efforts and congratulate them on the amazing results. Also to be commended are the citizens of Prince George who despite difficult economic times helped brighten the holiday season for many people in their community.
