ST. PAUL – Four years after an inaugural parade that saw food and funds collected for the local food bank, two sisters continue to work for the noble cause.
In 2020 at the peak of the pandemic, Breana and Carina Malcolmson started an initiative they called Fashion for the Food Bank, selling t-shirts and raising funds for the St. Paul & District Food Bank. During the holiday season of that same year, they decided to venture out into the cold December air to collect food donations for the food bank, making their way through various streets in St. Paul on a handful of parade floats.
Since then, they have been doing it every year.
When asked what prompted them to organize their first holiday food drive, Breana tells Lakeland This Week, that it was simply the realization of how fortunate they are not to require the services provided by the food bank.
“There is a huge need for it in our community and we recognize that,” says Breana, adding, it is an opportunity for the sisters – and their families and friends – to give back to the community.
Over the last few years, they’ve donated approximately $12,000 worth of food and clothing to the food bank, and their initiative has grown to involve local businesses in the community, which Breana says she’s thankful for.
This year, they will be doing it again.
On Dec. 8, from 5 to 9 p.m., Santa’s Food Drive will make its way through town.
While the drive will mainly collect non-perishable food items and monetary donations, if people do want to donate clothing, “We would definitely make sure it gets to the right people.”
This year, Breana says they chose a route with the least amount of vehicle traffic. “We [will] definitely try to see as many people and as much of the town as we can, but we know our time is limited,” she says, speaking about the chosen route.
The parade will begin in the Spring Creek neighbourhood, before proceeding down 57 Street, where it will cross main street and make its way to 54 Ave. and down 53 Ave. The parade will then head south onto 48th Street, making its way past the hospital and winding past senior care facilities in the area.
The parade will head east on 48th Ave., toward École du Sommet, then south toward the edge of town before heading back west along Lakeshore Drive. Then the route heads north onto 46 Ave., and then west, as the parade makes it was toward the Clancy Richard and CAP Arenas to finish up.
Organizers recommend downloading the Glympse app to help track the drive in real time. That way, people will be able to see “where we’re at so that [people are not] standing for two hours waiting for [the drive] to come.”
She adds, “We do try our best to make sure people can track us the whole time.”
The parade will be difficult to miss. Music will be playing loudly, and there will be at least six floats this year.
“We’re hoping we can maybe get a couple more.”
Those who want to watch the parade, and those who want to donate, can simply wait along the route with their donations. “It could be a single [can of] soup, or they can donate cash, or a cheque to the food bank,” she explains.
