Thousands of people came out to see the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train, which stopped in Sturtevant to raise money, food and awareness for the Racine County Food Bank.
The Holiday Train tours through the Upper Midwest and helps draw attention to the need of local food banks. All food and cash donations collected in Sturtevant stay with the Racine County Food Bank. A check from the railroad for the Food Bank was also presented during the stop.
Sturtevant Police Chief Sean Marschke estimates that around 10,000 people came out to see the train.
“It was crazy in a good way,” he said. “This year went off without a hitch. We had no problems.”
Dan Taivalkoski, director of the food bank, said 6,805 pounds of food were donated, more than double what was collected in 2013. Visitors last year gave 2,450 pounds of food for the food bank.
“This was the biggest crowd we’ve ever had,” he said. “The amount of food donated is really terrific. It was awesome to be there.”
Taivalkoski said CP Rail presented a check for $4,000, an amount that doubles the $2,000 given in 2013 and is four times the $1,000 they gave in 2012.
A total for cash donations from visitors to the train wasn’t available as of Monday afternoon. Taivalkoski said he expected to have that amount tallied later this week.
Santa, live musical entertainment and a full-size, brightly wrapped locomotive pulled through into the Sturtevant train depot at about 6:10Â p.m. Sun., Dec. 7.
The train has been stopping in Sturtevant since 2003, by-passing the village only once in 2011.
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