LAC LA BICHE - As students across Lac La Biche County are gearing up to head back to school this fall, local law enforcement and protective services departments in the community are hoping to lend a helping hand.
This month, the Lac La Biche RCMP detachment, and County peace officers and fire services are taking part in the second annual Fill the Pack Challenge. The three teams are taking part in a friendly competition to gather school supplies for students in the area. The initiative reinforces how important supporting students are, said Chris Clark, the County’s manager of enforcement services.
“This event shows the importance of being able to give back to our community and that education and being prepared for school is crucial for students,” he said, a value that also reflects the department's passion for the community. “One of the most important aspects [of the challenge] is it demonstrates to our youth that our first responders are there to support anyone in times of need.”
The departments are aiming to fill 80 backpacks this month with writing instruments, notebooks, pencil cases, rulers and geometry sets, just to name a few of the supplies that will be gathered. The fundraiser, which is scheduled to wrap up on Aug. 28, is still in need of more donations.
“The volume of items coming in is phenomenal. The community is really giving back this year. One of the things we really need though is backpacks and lunch kits,” he explained.
The items can be dropped off with other supplies at one of the three department offices along Beaver Hill Road, said Clark.
Departments face off
While the departments all hope to gather as many donations as they can to help support students, the friendly competition also comes with a punishment for the losing team. The department that receives the least amount of donations will be soaked at the Station 1 Fire House by the top two teams, said Clark. Therefore, the community is encouraged to support their favourite department as the three teams race to get the most supplies.
“The competition is intense. It's actually so intense that our peace officers (who lost last year) have snuck into the fire hall and figured out how to use the fire truck,” he said, jokingly. “Now all jokes aside… we work very closely with fire services and they’re a great team of community members who volunteer and go above and beyond,” alongside the RCMP detachment, he added.
Items needed
Specific supplies needed this year include:
- backpacks, lunch bags, pencil cases, calculators
- white erasers, pencil crayons, rulers, glue sticks, scissors
- duo tangs, notebooks (170 page lined), two-inch binders
- highlighters, pencil sharpeners, crayons, thick tip markers
- geometry sets, sticker notes
For more information visit www.laclabichecounty.ca
