2022's Halloween event, Boo at the Creek donated $10,806.65 (combined monetary and food donations) to the Airdrie Food Bank.

Airdrie's Boo at the Creek is a family-friendly, free Halloween event where kids are able to come out and enjoy all kinds of activities.

Paige Cairns, the creator and committee chair, was so excited to see so many people attend the event.

"The biggest difference was having no COVID restrictions. The number of people that attended was significantly higher, and it was definitely our highest year yet. We estimated that probably around 5000 people attended."

This year, there were way more activities and entertainment. Cairns also mentioned that this past year's event felt like a way different environment compared to the past couple of years.

"The initial drive behind it [Boo at the Creek] was to create an event that families could come out and attend that there was no cost to families and that gave them an opportunity to give back to the community as well. So, it's always been free and admission has been with a donation of either food or money to the food bank. Especially with the economy the way it is in the last couple of years here, I think that that need is even more relevant to a lot of people than maybe it wouldn't have been in years past. Being able to give back to a cause that really anybody could  access at any point in time in their life, it again creates an opportunity for families to feel like they're a part of something"

According to Cairns, just over $5600 of the donation was raised by the silent auction they held then the rest of it came from monetary donations at the event. The food bank takes the food that's donated and puts an approximate dollar value on it.

"They're so appreciative and they're so wonderful. They've been at our event since we first started eight years ago, they come down and are there to talk with people and collect the food and help out in any way that they can. They're just huge supporters of us and incredibly appreciative of what we do and it feels so great to be able to bring our kids to the food bank and actually see it and present that cheque to them"

As of right now Boo at the Creek will be back next year. Over the past 8 years of existence, the event has donated just under $50,000 to the food bank.

Cairns also wanted to thank everybody that helps out with the community event as well.

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