LAC LA BICHE — Local peace officers, firefighters, and RCMP dropped off nearly 70 backpacks filled with school supplies at Vera M. Welsh Elementary on Wednesday morning after competing in the first Fill the Pack Challenge.
With the goal of donating 80 student bags with donated school supplies, Lac La Biche County’s emergency response crews agreed to faced off to collect the most supplies.
The final counts proved the Lac La Biche Fire Rescue Services the winner, with the RCMP detachment coming in a close second, according to Cst. Cassandra Calverley.
“This leaves the CPOs with the least amount and getting soaked at an upcoming date,” Calverley added.
When all items have been inventoried and distributed to students across the Lac La Biche region, the participating crews will select a date to spray down the peace officer team.
Jokingly, Fire Chief John Kokotilo remarked, “I am trying to arrange for the coldest day this month.”
Kidding aside, both Calverley and Kokotilo say the Fill the Pack Challenge was only made successful from the help of the community and staff members who dropped off donations, and the local businesses that welcomed donation bins in their stores.
The idea to pit local emergency response crews against each other to raise donations for a good cause was spearheaded by Cst. Calverley, who was fundamental in organizing the initiative that resulted in the first ever Fill the Pack donation drive.
Calverley deserves a special kudos for her efforts in arranging this positive endeavour that the emergency tri-services were able to participate in, said Kokotilo and RCMP Super Intendent Chris Clark.
“We are super pleased with the results this year and we look forward to next year’s challenge,” Calverley added.
Due to operational issues, the associated ambulance team had to withdraw from the Fill the Pack competition.
