The River radio station’s third annual River Relief Truck kicks-off this week, and is expected to be bigger than ever.
Dave Reynolds, 99.7 The River’s program director and morning show host will live in a 53 foot trailer in an effort to help out the local foodbank.
He will sleep, eat and broadcast his morning show from the trailer, and won’t stop until it’s full of non-perishable food items, which will go to the Campbell River Foodbank.
He’s confident the community will help fill the trailer quickly.
“I’m pretty sure this is going to be our best year yet,” said Reynolds. “Ultimately, my goal with this event is to sustain the Campbell River Foodbank year round.”
Reynolds will move into the truck tomorrow. The location has changed from last year; this year it will be in Mariner Square, (parking lot near London Drugs and Save On Foods), instead of Merecroft Village.
Last year, the River Relief Truck raised about $250,000 in non-perishable food items, filling the truck in just eight days, and supplying the foodbank until this past July.
The initiative does not solicit people for money, only non-perishable food items. However, Reynolds said there are some people who would like to donate money to the foodbank, and now there’s an option for online donations on the Campbell River Foodbank’s website.
While Reynolds said he is not sure how fast the truck will fill up, especially with the change of location, if the initiative turns out to be “off the chain,” and the truck fills up really fast, Reynolds’ said that won’t be the end.
“We’re going to play it by ear and we’ll see how the first truck develops, and if we can load up one truck in five days, we’re definitely going to go for a second one” said Reynolds. “One truck gets them to end of July, a second truck would be year round.”
The River Relief Truck will also continue with the tradition of Turkey Tuesday, which will be this coming Tuesday. People can drop off turkeys that will go to the foodbank, as well as the Salvation Army. Last year, Reynolds hoped to get 100 turkeys and instead 227 were dropped off, so this year he’s upped his goal, drastically.
“My goal, 700 turkeys! It’s a lot of turkeys,” said Reynolds, adding that 100 would go to the Salvation Army and 600 would go to the foodbank.
“I brought Butterball Corporate into this. I’m pretty confident that we’re going to do 700 turkeys.
“Every family in Campbell River will be guaranteed a turkey dinner this year.”