It took hardly any time at all to fill the police vehicle, a Ford Explorer patrol cruiser, with donations for the 91原创 Food Bank at the first-ever 鈥淧ack the Police Car鈥� drive-through at Willoughby Town Centre on Saturday, Dec. 19.
So it was a good thing that the 91原创 RCMP brought a full-size van for the overflow, said Cpl. Julie Bion, a 91原创 RCMP Community Policing Section officer.
鈥淣ot only did we stuff the back seat of the Explorer, it overflowed into the Chevy extended van,鈥� Bion said.
By the time the RCMP were done collecting donations in the parking lot of the shopping centre, they had filled the big van three-quarters full with non-perishable food items and collected $1,533 in cash donations as well.
It was the first fill-the-police car event to be staged by the 91原创 RCMP, done in conjunction with the Walnut Grove / Willoughby Business Association (WWBA).
It was wet, miserable weather, but that didn鈥檛 seem to matter, said Cpl. Craig Van Herk.
鈥淒onations poured in more than the rain,鈥� Van Herk laughed.
It was an all-too-rare outing for the 91原创 detachment Community Policing Section, whose officers saw their offices closed ,and the range of public events they can arrange, sharply limited by the pandemic.
READ ALSO: 91原创 Community Police Offices won鈥檛 re-open until the new year
Subject to case counts, and new or ongoing provincial health orders and guidelines, the Township of Lamngley has said the Community Police Offices (CPO) status will be 鈥渞e-evaluated in the new year with the key consideration of keeping community members who access the CPOs and employees who work in them safe and healthy.鈥�
There are three CPOs in the Township, in Aldergrove, Willowbrook and Walnut Grove, and one in 91原创 City.
Civilian staff at all of the CPOS are Township of 91原创 employees, which is why the CPO in 91原创 City remains closed as well.
READ ALSO: A parade of aid for Aldergrove food bank and Ishtar
Const. Phil Colter, who was helping out at the Willoughby event on Saturday, had just been appointed to the Aldergrove community policing office in June, as the COVID-19 outbreak was tearing through the Lower Mainland.
Colter helped organize an instant drive-through event at the Aldergrove Legion a week earlier, working with other community groups to pull it together in a matter of just five days.
Intended to help the 91原创 Food Bank and the Ishtar Women鈥檚 Resource Society, it produced a similar, sizable response.
鈥淲e had over $4,000, five minivans [full of food donations] and Ishtar received two vehicles of toys,鈥� a pleased Colter estimated.
Cpl. Bio said it was just good for the community officers to actually be out in the community, albeit with COVID prevention measures that included masks, gloves and social distancing.
Even the RCMP safety bear wore a mask for the occasion.
There were separate entry and exit points to avoid congestion of cars and congregating of people and donors were asked to stay in their cars when they dropped off items.
鈥淲e were overwhelmed by the community support,鈥� Bion told the 91原创 Advance Tines.
This year, the officers noted, even more so than years past, donations to the 91原创 Food Bank are urgently needed.
There are currently about 700 client families in the 91原创s who access the 91原创 Food Bank for assistance.
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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