CALGARY, Alta. – After an enormously successful debut, organizers of the 18 Wheels of Christmas campaign have launched their second effort.

Organizers are asking transportation companies and individuals employed in the transportation industry to chip in with donations to Alberta’s food banks. Rosenau Transport has contributed a full-sized van trailer to the cause which will be loaded up with donations.

Last year, the 18 Wheels of Christmas campaign resulted in a 48-ft. van trailer being filled with food for the food banks. About 26,000 pounds was collected.

“It was a huge success last year,” said Colleen Nickel, who founded the event along with colleague Dale Hart. “We were overwhelmed with the response.”

However, if there was one disappointment resulting from last year’s campaign it was that most of the donations came from the general public and not so much the trucking companies that were targeted. Nickel says she hopes that changes this year and that more carriers participate. She would also love to see trucking companies in other parts of the country join and launch their own drives in conjunction with the original 18 Wheels of Christmas campaign.

Nickel asks that anyone willing to do so contact her or Hart so they can co-ordinate their efforts.

While the bulk of last year’s food was donated by individuals, there were some notable exceptions. Big Horn Transport donated an entire skid of peanut butter and Manitoulin Transport brought in a huge amount of food by placing bins at its customers facilities. This resulted in the company collecting about eight skids of food weighing 7,000 pounds.

“It was a huge help and hopefully that will encourage other companies to take part,” says Nickel.

Last year, companies that donated to the cause would have their logo placed on the fully-decorated trailer but since they were receiving advertising, they weren’t able to claim the cost of the food. So this year, rather than providing decals on the trailer representing companies that contribute, organizers will instead be able to issue receipts provided contributors keep any receipts they receive from the grocery store.

The specially-decorated trailer has already begun treking across the province and it will continue to do so right up until Christmas. It’s going to be visiting Lloydminster on Nov. 26 and will be at the Road King in Calgary on Dec. 14, 16 and 17. The trailer will make other appearances right across the province as required to pick up donations.

For further information or to donate, contact program co-ordinators: Dale Hart at 403-279-4204 or Colleen Nickel at 403-279-4204 in Calgary. Or call Chris Richards at 780-808-5219 in Lloydminster. You can also reach them by e-mail at: 18wheels_xmas@rosenau.org