Despite a near-record crowd Friday and mild temperatures for the annual Canadian Pacific Holiday Train, donations of both food and cash were down slightly over last year.
Dan Taivalkoski, executive director of the food bank, said a firm total of how many pounds of food were donated has yet to be calculated, but preliminary numbers put the amount at 4,392 pounds, down from 6,805 pounds in 2014.
Cash was also down; $1,322.72 compared to $1,871.54 last year. CP Rail, however, did present a check for $4,000, the same amount as 2014.
Depot Tavern and Parker Power, two businesses located near the tracks, participated in the Holiday Train food drive as well. They collected $225 and three barrels of food that hadn’t yet been weighed, Taivalkoski added.
“Other gifts will roll in as well,” he said in an email to Racine County Eye. “There is no doubt in my mind that the event does a great job of raising awareness of the need in our community.”