SCHREIBER — A community tradition in the township of Schreiber is set to bring holiday magic back to residents after a hiatus due to the Covid pandemic.
Beginning at 6:30pm, the Schreiber Fire Department will be touring the streets of the township tonight, singing carols and collecting donations for the Northshore Harvest Cupboard.
The Schreiber Fire Department made the announcement on their Facebook page on Dec. 15.
Fire Chief Jan Morrison said that this is meant to reignite what used to be an “annual” tradition before Covid lockdowns and restrictions.
He said that the whole thing began before he moved to Schreiber in 2003.
“Effectively, what we do is we put together a little old hayride trailer, the members and their families get on it, we try to drive up and down all the local streets real slow, and we collect donations for the local food bank as we go,” Morrison said.
The hayride trailer is decorated like a Christmas float and will even feature an appearance from Santa himself.
Morrison said that children and families in the community are invited to seize the opportunity to see jolly old Saint Nick and go for a ride on the town.
“We allow local kids to come get on the [hay]ride and go around the block, or two, or for as long as they’d like, really.”
Beyond getting the department more involved in the community, Morrison said that the event gives members of the local fire department a chance to bond and share in the spirit, while also giving residents a chance to give to those in-need and have some fun to boot.
“Once we’ve done all of the streets, we bring [the trailer] back here, put all the food together, and the next morning we bring it to… the food bank across the street,” he said.
Just two weeks ago, the fire department also collected donations for Northshore Harvest Cupboard during the CPKC Holiday Train’s stop in Schreiber.
The Northshore Harvest Cupboard services Schreiber, Terrace Bay, and Rossport.
With the rising cost of food and living in general, food banks continue to be a vital resource for many.
This event organized by the Schreiber Fire Department is just one example of how northern communities mark the season with a spirit of giving and wholesome fun for the family.