Mountain FM Community Christmas Care Food & Toy Drives raise over $17,000

The 7th annual ‘Mountain FM Community Christmas Care Food & Toy Drive hosted by Squamish McDonald’s Restaurant’ has exceeded 2016’s total.

The annual event benefits Squamish non-profit Community Christmas Care, who collect, pack and distribute Christmas hampers to those in need in the community.

In July Mountain FM held the ‘Halfway To Christmas’ Food and Toy Drive, that also benefits Community Christmas Care at the same location and raised just over $5,000. On December 5th, 2017 the annual Christmas event saw 726 Egg McMuffins and 1020 McCafé Beverages given away for free by Squamish McDonald’s Restaurant to those who made a toy, food or cash donation.

Hundreds of toys where dropped off at the Mountain FM tents, and numerous local businesses donated cash towards the cause. Squamish RCMP and Squamish Fire Rescue also stopped by to make donations and let children check out their service vehicles.

Community Christmas Care Director Darcy Reimer says 275 applications for hampers have been received this year, which includes 67 single mums and 13 single dads, totaling 500 adults along with 150 girls and 150 boys.

Reimer had a goal of $10,000 in mind for the event, which was met, and exceeded thanks to generous donations from the community. A total of $12,570 was raised during the 4 hour fundraiser, which added to the summer’s donations brings the total for 2017 to almost $17,600.