The folks from WPD Ambulance did not have to take as long to unload presents from their Cram an Ambulance campaign this year.
WPD Ambulance's campaign to fill ambulances with Christmas presents for the Battlefords Empty Stocking Fund fell well short of previous years, managing to fill only two ambulances.
WPD spent Wednesday collecting toys from the various drop off points in the Battlefords, but had only one ambulance completely filled when they left Canadian Tire for the Empty Stocking Fund's headquarters at the Food Bank on 101st Street.
WPD expected to pick up a final hefty donation from Kiewit on to round out the total to two ambulances of toys.
It is a far cry from last year's total when five-and-a-half ambulances were filled with presents. The presents will be going to children in need this holiday season.
WPD's Jason Toovey was at a loss to explain why the donation numbers were so low this year, though he did speculate perhaps the early date of Dec. 14 may have had something to do with it.
"Being the 14th, it takes a while for people to get wound up for Christmas," Toovey said. The date was chosen so all the Christmas hampers could be ready to go by the weekend.
There had been past years when a big push by local citizens would push the final totals upward. That didn't happen this year.
"Up till today it was looking like we were pretty much on par with where we usually are," said Toovey.
"It's OK, though. The need will still get met."
