Granisle and Houston prepare to Cram the Cruiser

The Salvation Army may have left Houston and area but the annual collection effort on behalf of a local food bank continues.

Collections under the umbrella of Cram the Cruiser taking place Dec. 7, 2024 will go to the food bank now under the responsibility of the Houston Community Services Association.

It also assumed responsibility for the Salvation Army's thrift store by blending in its own The Vault when the Army left the community the beginning of November.

Paul Batley from the RCMP detachment's victims services section describes this year's collection as one planned without any drastic changes.

"Cram The Cruiser will go ahead as always, in its 12^th annual edition, on Saturday, Dec. 7^, 2024, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Buy Low parking lot," said Batley.

Collections will be handled by the Houston RCMP detachment, the Houston Volunteer Fire Department, Houston Search And Rescue and Houston EHS Station 767 provincial ambulance service will all be in attendance.

Past years have seen a welcome response by members of the community.

Granisle is also hosting a Cram the Cruiser and it takes place Dec. 6 in the parking lot outside of the Village of Granisle office.

The Granisle Lions Club, the Houston/Granisle RCMP, Mayor Linda McGuire and Village staff will be on hand.

This will be the 11th year the Granisle Lions Club has acted as a local organizer of the collection.

The Village of Granisle this year purchased approximately $600 worth of canned goods and packaged items for Cram the Cruiser, reports Karen Barber, a local Lion and one of the events organizers.

"The residents of Granisle contribute canned and packaged supplies along with any cash donations which are then used to purchase more food products," she said.

Last year approximately 30 Granisle residents received food packages.