News | DrumhellerMail

It’s a food bank blitz

    The community is rallying to make sure this year’s Salvation Army food bank drive will be one of the best ever.
    This Thursday, November 26, Drumheller and surrounding communities will be blitzed by volunteers wanting to make Christmas brighter for area families, and to replenish the shelves of the Salvation Army Food Bank after a year of higher demand than usual.
    It all gets started at 6 p.m. on Thursday night. Volunteers will be going door-to-door collecting donations for the food bank.
    Organizer Heather Colberg says they have a strong contingent of volunteers ready to help with the collection, but could always use more. The DCHS junior and senior basketball teams will be on route to collect packages, as will members of the Drumheller Dragons. The food will be taken to the former Liquidation World warehouse, accessible from the rear entrances at Greentree Mall.
    Those who wish to volunteer can muster at the various points throughout the valley at 5:45 p.m. and go door-to-door. There are also opportunities to volunteer by heading down to the former Liquidation World to help sort.
    The food bank had enormous pressure on it last year, and could very well see the same thing again in the coming season. Colberg urges residents to take a moment to think about those who are in need, and what you are able to give.
    Last year the food drive was characterized as its best ever with more than 100 volunteers out combing the neighbourhoods or sorting the groceries and toys.

Muster points for
Salvation Army food drive 2009

• Newcastle Newcastle Community Hall

•Nacmine       Nacmine Community Hall
• Hunts Crescent,     Bowling Alley area,
• Day care area        DeMott Floors
•Midland                 Midland Community Hall

•North Drum Area   Oasis Car Wash
• Bankview Area       In front of 710 1 St. SW
•Riverside/Willow
Estates      High school parking lot
• McConkey Park

area to Court House Parking lot of courthouse
• Downtown, Post office,

• Little League park area      Parking lot of the Brick
• Greentree Area   Greentree School parking lot
• Morrin                 Main Street near fire hall
• Munson              Munson Community Hall
• Rosedale    Rosedale Community Hall
• Carbon       Carbon Community Hall

Salvation Army hamper drive November 26

The Drumheller Salvation Army will be holding their annual food drive on Thursday, November 26 at 6 p.m.
The food drive is part of its Christmas campaign. The one night blitz will cover the Drumheller valley as well as Nacmine, Rosedale, Morrin, Munson and Carbon.
Volunteers can meet up at one of 14 starting points set up throughout the valley. The drop off point for food and sorting will be at the former Liquidation World warehouse, accessible from the rear of the building
The Salvation Army has seen the need for the food bank grow this year, having helped 470 people so far.
“The more households we can get involved the more we will be able to help all those less fortunate,” said Salvation Army food drive coordinator, Heather Colberg.
The food drive is a one night event where community members are asked to donate non-perishable food items, and volunteers from each area come to collect the items. Canvassing will begin at 6 p.m.
The food drive coordinators would like households to have their non-perishable articles pre bagged or boxed and labeled for the volunteers.
“This program needs support from all community members so please dig deep in your hearts,” said Colberg.
The Christmas food drive is not the only fundraising event the Salvation Army holds over the holiday season. November 20 kicks off the traditional Kettle Campaign at the Dragon’s game. To volunteer to man a kettle call 403-823-2215.
The Salvation Army operates entirely on donations and the main source of income comes from the Christmas Kettles. The kettles this year will need some 700 volunteer hours over five weeks at four different locations.
“This is a huge undertaking for us and we need the support of the community to make it successful,” said Salvation Army Lieutenant Rachel Sheils.
Last Christmas was filled with a little more cheer for the 138 children who received toys and 107 families who received a Christmas hamper with everything needed for a holiday meal.

Wheatland, Starland counties present rail line resolution to AAMDC

    Wheatland County, seconded by Starland County, are presenting a resolution at this week’s Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties (AAMDC) Convention aimed at reassessing policies regarding rail discontinuance.
    The fall AAMDC Convention is from November 16-19 in Edmonton. The organization’s mission statement is “through the provision of advocacy, trade and insurance services, the AAMDC will assist rural municipalities in achieving strong and effective local government.” These resolutions guide the organization in arriving these goals.            CAO of Starland County Ross Rawlusyk, says the goal of the resolution, which Ben Armstrong, Reeve of Wheatland County worked on to draft, is to garner more support for rural municipalities where there is a threat of rail discontinuance.
    The resolution reads, “that the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties urge the provincial and federal governments to re-assess its policies and procedures regarding discontinued rail lines and, upon notification of a rail line discontinuance, enter into discussions with the involved local municipalities for the purpose of exploring and pursuing partnership opportunities to acquire these rail lines for the purpose of utilization as future regional transportation and utility corridors.”
    The resolution states many of these corridors are valuable to municipalities.
    “Most of the rail lines were constructed in the early years to reach communities scattered across the nation and, given the lack of settlement, the lines were usually the shortest distance between two locations. Given the population and settlement growth to-day, it would be impossible to re-construct such a continuous corridor. To lose these rail corridors would be detrimental; to have the vision to utilize them for future servicing would be beneficial for future generations.”
    The corridors could be used for transportation, or placement of utilities.
    Rawlusyk says there is a role for government in these types of projects. Recently surrounding municipalities are exploring the possibilities arising from the discontinuance of a rail line from Lyalta to Oyen.        Rawlusyk says the net salvage of the line is in the millions of dollars, but there is a chance it could be purchased for much less, and utilized.
    “It makes sense to do it, but we need a bigger partner,” he says.
    The resolution passed at the Central Alberta zone, enabling it to be presented at the convention. The resolution session is today, November 18.

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