Santa Claus came to town on Sunday, and he's hoping to leave with a few sacks of non-perishable items.
The 6th annual Rogers Santa Claus Parade unofficially kicked off the holiday season in Vancouver this weekend, drawing hundreds of thousands of onlookers eager to share in the spirit.
"People come down, they feel great, and they think about giving," said Cheryl Prepchuk, CEO of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.
Bands, choirs, festive floats and community groups took to the streets, marching down Georgia Street to Howe, before heading south to Davie.
But there's more to the parade than dancing in the streets.
In Pictures: The 2009 Santa Claus Parade
The event is held in support of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society, which collects roughly 80 per cent of its donations during the holidays.
"The more people give today, the better off people are going to be in the following year," Prepchuk said.
Organizers hope to reach a target of 20,000 lbs. of food this year, and $21,000 in cash donations.
It's an important year for the society, Prepchuk said, because of the rise in first-time recipients.
"The level of need is great, and the food donations are down," she said.
Hold on to your toques
Lost and found items will be located at the Vancouver Art Gallery the day of the parade, and at the Rogers Retail head office thereafter.
If you lost an item, you can claim it by calling 604-270-9200.
