“We are really looking forward to contributing to the community”
Some of Airdrie’s finest police officers, firefighters, community peace officers and paramedics are teaming up for a friendly competition that will help support three great causes in Airdrie over the next three months.
You may have seen police organizations across North America lip syncing on YouTube. Our first responders have decided to take it one step further and engage in a three-month charity challenge to decide who will be lip syncing.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Airdrie Municipal Enforcement (AME) teamed up, slapped their cuffs on the table and challenged Airdrie Fire Department (AFD) and Alberta Health Services Emergency Medical Services (AHS EMS) to a Sirens Lip Sync Showdown: Battle for Airdrie.
The Showdown will take place in November – January with a different challenge each month. But here is the best part of the challenge. The losers have to lip sync in a music video.
RCMP Commander Kim Pasloske is encouraging you to support the RCMP/AME team. “We are really looking forward to contributing to the community. The reward at the end, watching the AFD/EMS video, will just be a bonus!” she says.
“We understand the firefighters will have to miss nap time to do the video. We don’t mind if they film in their pajamas.”
Says Fire Chief Kevin Weinberger: “We were very happy to accept the challenge from our protective services partners. Regardless of who wins this challenge (us, of course), the winner will be the community.” He adds, “When we dominate this challenge, we will get to pick the best song for the other team to perform in a great video. I could talk about donuts, extended coffee breaks and traffic tickets but I won’t stoop to that, because I already know AFD will win!”
In November toy donations for Airdrie Lioness Christmas Hamper Program are the challenge including a charity hockey game Nov.24. Entry is a donated toy.
In December both teams will collect food for Airdrie Food Bank. You can donate a non-perishable food item to one of our bins around the city.
In January both teams want to help Canadian Blood Services top up the blood bank. Sign up and donate blood for the month and be on the lookout for special codes you can use after your donation to support one of the teams.
At the end of January, results will be tallied and a song for the losing team will be chosen. Then it’s on to producing the lip sync video…stay tuned Airdrie!
Corporal Gina Slaney is a community resource officer with the Airdrie RCMP
Share the Joy
Airdrie Lioness Christmas Hamper Program
Essential to the community, this program supported 367 families (1,110 Airdrie citizens) in 2017.
What you can give:
Hampers consist of non-perishable goods, toiletries and gifts/gift cards for all members of the family, size proportional to the number of family members. Fresh produce is provided as well, but the public/sponsors are not responsible for this portion. Children under 12 receive toys/gifts; children over 12 receive gift cards (or age-appropriate gifts if any are donated, like headphones), as do their parents.
Top-10 wish list (non-perishables):
canned soup, granola bars, macaroni and cheese, dry pasta, peanut butter, salad dressing, mayonnaise, ketchup, Stove Top stuffing and snack crackers.
Gift/toys for kids eight to 12 can be the hardest to fill. The program receives plenty of dolls, but needs more Lego, family games such as Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit, trucks and vehicles for age six to 10, science kits, craft kits, etc.
Where to give:
Starting Nov. 27, bring your individual or full hamper donations directly to the depot (City of Airdrie’s old Fire Hall, Main Street south of Safeway). The depot is open for donations every day until mid-December.
Airdrie Food Bank
Christmas celebrations often focus on food, here’s how you can help. Donate to grocery store food bank bins, participate or host an event where food and donations can be collected, purchase a gift certificate in someone’s honour, or make a cash donation. Together let’s make Christmas brighter for those in need in our community.
What’s most needed:
Seasonal (Holiday) items:
- Hams
- Stuffing
- Cranberries
- Chocolate treats
Winter Items:
- Boxed Cereal
- Pancake Mix
- Syrup
- Sugar *
- Rice *
- Oats *
- Flour*
- Crackers
- Cookies
- Boxed and canned milk
- Coffee
- Tea
- Microwaveable or quick meals
- Large dried soup
- Canned tomatoes
- Beans and legumes
- Jam and honey
- Feminine hygiene items
- Condiments
- Canned pasta
- Side dishes or meal kits (Rice-a-roni, etc.)
- Baking items & cake mixes
- Sugar free items (for diabetics)
- Condensed milk
- Cup of soup
- *bulk packaging only (i.e.10-lb bags)
Holiday Hours:
Dec. 24 – open 8:30 a.m. to noon
Dec. 25-28 – closed
Dec. 31 – open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Jan. 1 – closed
