Fire department, town services host annual food drive

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Strathmore Fire department is bringing back its annual food drive, this year partnering with the Town of Strathmore to support the Wheatland County Food Bank. 

This will be the fourth such annual food drive hosted by the fire department. In previous years, Holy Cross Collegiate (HCC) has joined in to support the endeavour, though due to some administrative changes, the school is not participating this time around. 

“It has morphed into an annual food drive and something the food bank depends on every year. We are looking this year to beat our previous total,” said Fire Chief, David Sturgeon. “Over the past three years, we have steadily increased the amount, and so this year, we are looking to beat last year’s number. All of the emergency services are included, so police, fire, and EMS, as well as our municipal bylaw and potentially some of our operations team within the town.”

Last year, between the school and the fire department, over 5,400 pounds of food was donated through the week-long drive. 

A release distributed by the Town of Strathmore indicates demand for the food bank’s services has increased by approximately 60 per cent over the past several years. In 2025, over 900 households accessed food hampers.

“The Town of Strathmore’s Fire Department Food Drive is one of our largest food drives of the year and has a huge impact,” said Lynette Aschenbrenner, food bank manager at Wheatland Food Bank, via the release. “Every piece of food helps feed everyone right now.”

Volunteers will be distributing donation bags to neighborhoods on Feb. 26 and will be returning to collect filled bags on March 6.

As staff and volunteers will not be able to distribute bags to the entire town, those who are not in the canvassing neighborhoods may still drop off donations at the Strathmore Fire Hall between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. during the campaign period. 

“It is very rewarding seeing the food bank get stocked up for the season and just being out and about talking with people in the town, I think it is very well supported by the residents and obviously, they are the ones donating. We are just the conduit to get it to the food bank,” said Sturgeon. “The residents are amazing and super giving and thoughtful, so we are very appreciative. That is what makes it successful, and I know the food bank is kind of overwhelmed every year when we drop off the donations on behalf of the residents.”

Though HCC is not participating with the students this year, Sturgeon added he hopes to see that return in future food drives as a fun and lighthearted competition, ending with hosting the students for lunch.

Urgently needed items are listed by the food bank on their website. These include, but are not limited to, canned meat and soup, tuna, juice boxes, oatmeal, and hygiene products.