The Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Holiday Train never disappoints, and this year was no exception! The train rolled into Merrickville at 4:45pm on November 28th, to the approximately 2,500 people waiting in anticipation!
The 2024 stop brought in approximately 1,100 pounds of food and $2,700.00 in monetary donations, gratefully collected thanks to the generosity of all those who attended, and of course, CPKC’s very gracious cheque presentation of $4,000.00.
This generosity helps to support the efforts of the Food Cupboard Program at Rideau Community Health Services Merrickville Site, House of Lazarus in Mountain, South Grenville Food Bank supporting Prescott, Spencerville, Cardinal and Maitland in assisting families in need.
Thank you to all the committee members who assisted in organizing and promoting this event, Mayor Micheal Cameron, Merrickville Fire Department, Public Works Department Village of Merrickville Wolford, Merrickville Lions Club, Grenville OPP, and representatives from the various food banks listed.
A big thank you to the Lions members and community volunteers for their dedication to supporting the night of the train’s arrival, with signs, visitor information, parking, collecting donations, problem solving, and anything else that needed to be done. Thank you to our supporters this year, Campbell’s Sanitation for donating a port-a-potty, Starbucks Kemptville for supplying hundreds of cups of hot chocolate, coffee and snacks, and the Town of Prescott for hosting a bus to come from their area to enjoy the train. We would also like to thank Wilson Bassill for the continued use of his property and supporting a safe venue. Additionally, we extend continued thanks to the businesses in that area for their ongoing patience and support of the evening!
Safety is always our utmost concern before, during, and after the train’s arrival, and having the Grenville OPP and Auxiliary Officers there to keep the traffic controlled and pedestrians safe made the event run smoothly and gave us all peace of mind.
We would like to extend a well-deserved thank-you to the community for the generous amount of food and monetary donations received that night.