17 December 2006
2006 CPR Holiday Train Wraps Up Very Successful Fundraiser for Food Shelves in U.S. Northeast and Midwest
The CPR Holiday Train, which has been rolling across the U.S.
Northeast and Midwest since 1 Dec 2006, supporting local food shelves, wrapped up a successful 2006 program this weekend
with final shows in Carpio, North Dakota (16 Dec 2006) and then right at the U.S.-Canada border crossing in
Portal, North Dakota (17 Dec 2006).
Final tabulations are still being completed, but after fundraising shows in 40 communities in 11 days, about 76,000 pounds of food and
more than $190,000 have been donated to local shelves in the U.S. Northeast and Midwest to this point. What makes the dollar totals
even more significant is that food shelves have indicated that every dollar can distribute $9 worth of food.
An estimated 80,000 people took in the spirit and magic of the fundraising events, while thousands more caught a glimpse of this
unique fundraiser as the train, with its hundreds of thousands of lights rolled through the U.S., helping to build the awareness about
the ongoing fight against hunger.
Many American Holiday Train fans have even sent video clips of the "train of lights" to YouTube.com The best search results
are under Canadian Pacific Holiday Train and there continues to be inquiries about the
Holiday Train from people in States where the train does not run. As well, communities along the CPR track system have already begun
requesting to be included on the schedule for the 2007 Holiday Train.
Right from the start of the U.S. Holiday Train in Scranton PA, there have been so many examples at every stop of the spirit of giving
and generosity of Americans for their local food shelves. CPR is so grateful for the tremendous support for the Holiday Train program.
A second identically-decorated Holiday Train is currently still making its away across Canada taking the same message of
goodwill and food shelf support to communities until 19 Dec 2006 when it will end its run near Vancouver, British
Columbia.
Since launching in 1999, the Holiday Train magic, with its two trains that are each decked out with hundreds of thousands of bright
lights and decorations, continues to grow as more communities request it to stop and perform. Going into this year, about $2.4 million
(Cdn) has been raised and close to 1.3 million pounds of food collected in both Canada and the United Sates. Final numbers for 2006
for both countries should be confirmed by early January.
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