Truckers gear up for holiday season food drive

Trucking companies from across Atlantic Canada are banding together this holiday seasonto deliver thousands of pounds of food to people across the region.

The charity drive is a jointeffort between the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association andTrucks for Change Network,a non-profit organization of truck companies that's delivered donated food and materials to Canadians across the country.

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This is its second year operating in the East Coast and they're calling this year's edition "18 Wheels of Christmas in Atlantic Canada."

Last year they had a "modest" level of participation,says charity president and founderPeteDalmazzi,with 25-30 companies running a roundup for food items.

Food collection begins Nov. 27

The 2016drive gatheredseveral thousand pounds of food as well as some financial contributions, but this year they're hoping for a greater level of interest and donationsacross the region, andfor people to spread the word.

"We find in these things it's hard to have a goalbecause we're just doing it on a best efforts basis and it's hard to know," Dalmazzi said.

"If we end up with 20-25 thousand pounds of food between the four locations I think we'd be happy with that this year."

Midland Transport and Armor Transport were the "lead dogs" in wrangling up food items from across the region last year, he added, though hehopes more trucking companies jump on board to helpdeliver food items to the central food bank hubs in each province.

Pickup and deliverystarts Nov. 27 and runs to Dec.11 and companies can register now to hold food drives and have what they gather picked up.

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