This Sunday is the second year Innisfil volunteers will be hosting the second Drive-Thru Santa Claus parade, and once again, volunteers will be gratefully accepting donations for the Innisfil Food Bank and Christmas 4 Kids.
What is a ‘Drive-Thru’ Parade?
In Innisfil, it’s a parade where the illuminated floats stand still, and the viewers drive past in their vehicles.
Innisfil’s Drive-Thru Santa Claus Parade will have residents drive through the parking lot of the Innisfil Recreation Complex, between 5 and 7 p.m. – entering from Innisfil Beach Road and exiting onto Yonge, with donations of unwrapped toys for the Christmas 4 Kids charity or non-perishable food items for the Innisfil Food Bank welcomed.
But there are concerns: Ever since the town installed its Community Fridge outside the Innisfil Recreation Complex, there has been some confusion among donors as to what items can be donated, and where.
The rule of thumb is, non-perishables to the Food Bank; perishables (like fresh produce and frozen food) to the Community Fridge.
The Innisfil Food Bank, operated by the Innisfil Community Church at 1571 Innisfil Beach Road, accepts donations of non-perishable food only, from the public – tinned soups, meat and fish; canned vegetables and fruit; canned or dried beans; canned stews; pasta (canned or dry); tomato sauce; crackers; cookies; cereals; peanut butter; jam; canned juice and juice boxes - anything with a long shelf-life. Please make sure that items are not past their ‘Best Before’ date or expired.
Anyone wishing to donate perishable items such as fresh produce, prepackaged breads and pastries, frozen foods and commercially-prepared meals, should take these items directly to the Troy Scott Memorial Community Fridge, located outside the north entrance of the Innisfil Recreation Complex, and leave them inside the fridge - but not on the evening of the parade. Parade-goers are asked to remain inside their vehicles at all times.
All donations to the Community Fridge must be unopened, and unused. Not accepted: raw meat or seafood, eggs or dairy products, home-made food, expired food, moldy produce, or alcohol.
The Troy Scott Community Fridge operates on the principle of ‘Leave what you can, take what you need,’ and is open and available 24/7.
To access the Innisfil Food Bank, please call 705-436-1611. Food boxes are picked up on specific days only, by arrangement.
And Christmas 4 Kids (C4K) all year round ensures Innisfil families facing financial challenges can have a Merry Christmas, with age-appropriate gifts for every child.
So bring a toy, and non-perishable food items only - and please be prepared to wait. Vehicles may take as long as one hour to drive through the entire event, and washrooms are not available on site. For more information on the Drive-Thru Santa Claus Parade, click here.
The Drive-Thru Santa Claus Parade will also be live-streamed on Facebook.
