Thursday, December 10, 2020 – The 27th annual “Santa Run” will take place on Saturday, December 12th starting at dusk (around 5:00 p.m.). Presented by the Sooke Firefighter’s Association and IAFF Local 4841, the annual Santa Run is a well-loved holiday tradition in Sooke. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of 40 firefighters and the community, much-needed donations are collected in support of the Sooke Christmas Bureau and local families in need.
Decorated with bright and colourful Christmas lights and playing festive holiday music, four trucks loaded with Santa and helpers will be driving through neighbourhoods to spread holiday cheer. While traditionally, the Santa Run has served as a means to gather cash and food donations and is a capstone of the firefighter’s annual Fill-a-Fire-Truck campaign, as with much of 2020, things will be a little bit different this year. Contactless cash donations will be received only with persons strongly encouraged to contribute online, food donations will not be accepted this year.
How to participate:
- Make a donation online, at any time.
- Check out the four routes and determine the closest location to you. Keep to your household only.
- Listen for the music and look for the firetruck sirens and lights.
- Step outside, while remaining physically distant from others, and wave, cheer, and sing a carol as “Santa” drives by!
As of 12:30 p.m. $3,535 of the $15,000 goal has been raised towards the Sooke Firefighters Campaign, the target selected for one dollar donation per resident. Notably, this is one of several such campaigns in the community, all utilizing their respective networks to support the Sooke Food Bank:
- the community Facebook page, Meanwhile in Sooke, has raised over $11,500 as of 12:30 p.m. today;
- Edward Milne Community School 10 000 Tonight Food Drive as taken on a virtual approach including an online auction, which closes at 9:00 p.m. on Friday, December 11;
- Otter Point Dental is matching community donations towards a $2,000 campaign;
- Rotary Club of Sooke has collected 200 pairs of socks;
- Royal Canadian Legion Branch #54 has donated $1,500;
- Fields is collecting toy donations;
- Otter Point Fire Department’s is hosting a Candy Cane Run – also on December 12th;
- Sooke Home Hardware offered 10% off purchases to anyone donating cleaning supplies, toys, food, etc. (Dec. 1-7);
- Village Foods has made a $5,000 contribution and;
- Western Foods is doubling cash donations through products.
Of course, behind each of these campaigns are the residents of Sooke, the heart of our community.
As the firetrucks make their way through neighbourhoods to spread holiday cheer and children peek through their windows, households carol from a safe distance, the Sooke spirit is sure to shine bright this Saturday. Follow along with the trucks at sooke.ca/santa and share your cheerful photos online with the hashtag #SookeSpirit.
From the District of Sooke Team to our cherished community, Happy Holidays!
Media Contact:
Christina Moog, Communications Coordinator
Tel: 250.642.1634, ext. 678
Email: cmoog@sooke.ca
