By T.J. Hug
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
With Christmas fast approaching, the Holiday Train is again running across North America.
Canadian Pacific’s Holiday Train is easily identifiable,as it is adorned with Christmas lights. It is also greeted by large crowds wherever it stops. And with good reason.
The train is embodies the meaning of Christmas.
Each year, the Holiday Train sets out on a fund raising mission; to get people to donate to their local food banks. This trend began in 1999, and has been steady ever since. The train carries various musical performers, who play at each stop on a box car converted into a stage. The show is free, but patrons are encouraged to donate to their local food bank. This year, country music star Kira Isabella and Odd Music spent time on the train.
The Holiday Train program, since its inception, has raised nearly $9.5 million and 3.3 million pounds of food. Every donation, cash or non-perishable food item, has stayed within the community in which it was donated.
Those who happened to be around the tracks running through Fayette, Alvordton, Kunkle, Holiday City and Montpelier may have caught a glimpse of the bright, joyous train on December 2. It passed through Fulton and Williams Counties on its way to its next stop.
Though it didn’t stop, it still serves as a reminder of what the Holidays are all about.
T.J. Hug can be reached at
publisher@thevillagereporter.com