LANARK COUNTY – Lanark County paramedics filled their ambulances with food last weekend.

Local paramedics from the Lanark County Paramedic Services (LCPS) usually pick up patients, but on Dec. 14 and 15, they picked up donations as well. The fifth annual Fill an Ambulance with Food drive was held in Almonte, Carleton Place, Smiths Falls and Perth last weekend.

“It was another successful food drive across four communities, with 110 boxes of food collected, totaling close to 6,000 pounds,” organizers released in a statement. “In addition, just more than $8,000 was raised for local food banks.”

The paramedics had some help from the OPP Auxiliary Units in Carleton Place and Perth, as well as the Mississippi Thunder Kings hockey team in Carleton Place and Almonte. In addition, DICA Electronics matched the cash donations raised in Carleton Place with a donation of $2,500.

“We are extremely proud of this group of people who volunteered their time to help members of our communities at Christmas time,” Almonte General Hospital CEO and President Mary Wilson Trider said. “Special thanks to LCPS organizers Taryn Houlahan, Jason Tunks, Kelsey Chaplin and Lisa Popplewell for their leadership. And thank you to the people of Lanark County who donated food and money to ensure that families have food for the Christmas holidays.”

The LCPS provides emergency response service for an area encompassing almost 3,000 square kilometres with a population of 65,000. Lanark County Paramedics respond to 23,000 calls each year.