Leeds Grenville paramedics gear up for annual ‘Stuff a Truck’ campaign to support local families

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If you’re heading to Walmart or Real Canadian Superstore in Brockville this weekend to get your shopping in, don’t forget to pack a non-perishable food item, a toy, or a personal hygiene product to help make a difference right here in the community.

For yet another year, volunteers will be outside the two locations on Nov. 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to collect non-perishable food, toys, personal hygiene products and monetary donations for the annual “Stuff a Truck” campaign.

Once the two ambulances are sufficiently stuffed, everything gathered will be donated to the local food bank and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Leeds Grenville to help spread joy and ease the burdens of others during the holiday season. 

“We use front line ambulances,” shared Leeds Grenville Paramedics Superintendent Chris Davidson. “We remove the stretchers from them and clean them. We hope to fit as much stuff into the back of an ambulance as we can until hopefully we can fill them up.”

Davidson shared that for the nearly 10 years they have been running this campaign, they have always managed to receive a great turnout from the Brockville community, which inspires the volunteers to keep going. “As paramedics, we see people at their worst times, and everything going on in the world has put extra stress on people, not to mention mental health, and everything going on locally.” 

He continued, “So we’re kind of seeing that from a different lens every day than just what the general public sees, and it makes you want to give back to the community that you work in. We can help medically, but if we can help any other way, it means so much to provide more than just our medical expertise. It’s just kind of ingrained that they want to help when they’re on the job and when they’re off, we love to give back to the community that has shown us and continues to show us so much respect.”