More than $23,500 in cash, as well as food and toys, were handed over by big-hearted Red Deer motorists at the 2011 RCMP Charity Check Stop.
“We are always amazed by the generosity of Red Deerians,” said Cpl. Kathe DeHeer, spokesperson for the Red Deer City RCMP. She noted motorists started donating money, toys and food even before the Check Stop officially opened at 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 3.
“It was fantastic.”
This year’s cash total was down slightly from last year’s $24,185. But a truckload of toys was collected for the Red Deer Christmas Bureau and more than 1,188 kg (2,640 pounds) of food was turned over for the Red Deer Food Bank — and these amounts were the same or more than last year.
The money raised was split between the Christmas bureau, food bank, MADD Canada, Safe Communities of Central Alberta, Central Alberta Women’s Outreach Society, and Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter.