(Huntsville, ON) – Each December, the Huntsville Fire Department (HFD) holds its annual food drive in support of the Salvation Army. The HFD is pleased to announce that the tradition will continue for the 38th year, but with some changes to how non-perishable food donations will be collected.  

For the first time since the program began, the Huntsville Fire Department will be shifting from its usual door-to-door collection to special community donation events at Fire Station 1 in Huntsville and Fire Station 5 in Port Sydney on Wednesday, December 2, 2026. These special donation events will include visits and photos with Santa and other activities, in the spirit of welcoming the community and having fun while supporting local families in need. 

“Project Porchlight has always been about residents generously supporting the needs of our community, and we know this year will be no different. We are committed to keeping the food drive going strong as Huntsville continues to grow, and we appreciate the community’s support each year,” said Huntsville Fire Chief, Gary Monahan. “However, over the last few years we have faced challenges with door-to-door collection because of having fewer volunteers to cover a larger number of neighbourhoods, risky weather conditions, and a decreasing number of donations. This new format will allow us to continue to keep the food drive going strong but in a way that is safer for our volunteers and more engaging for families. We are confident that giving residents and families a chance to take part in the food drive in a fun way will become a new tradition that will increase our ability to support families in need within our community.”   

In addition to the two main Fire Station events, donations will continue to be accepted at local grocery stores. The period for dropping off non-perishable food items at these locations will be extended, and firefighters will be on hand on certain days to accept any food drive items and personally thank the community for their generous support. Dates, times and locations will be announced closer to the start of the food drive - stay tuned for all the details!  

Huntsville is a special place where neighbours take care of one another and always show up to help those in need. The Huntsville Fire Department is tremendously grateful for the community’s long-standing support and looks forward to another successful year of helping local families.   

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For information contact: 
Gary Monahan, Fire Chief
gary.monahan@huntsville.ca