On Friday, July 1, Airdrie Firefighters will be riding the ladder truck in the Canada Day Parade collecting food donations for the Airdrie Food Bank.

With donations typically the lowest of the year during summer months, the Airdrie Professional Firefighters Association wants to help replenish the food bank's shelves.

 Tom Jukes, Airdrie Firefighter and member of the Firefighters Association, said it's important to donate throughout the year but especially during the summer.

"The food bank obviously doesn't get quite as much support during the summer months, just cause people being out of town on vacation and without major holidays and stuff like that but the need is still there during the summer months."

A pickup truck and trailer will be following the ladder truck in the parade to collect food donations, along with multiple volunteers collecting cash donations.

"We'll have members walking alongside the truck picking up from the start of the parade route right to the finish of the parade route for anybody that brings items. Ideally people will bring them in plastic bags, it just makes it a little bit easier for us to grab them from people."

This year the corporate sponsor, Mattamy Homes, started the donations off with a cheque for $2,000.

To make a financial contribution, you can visit the Airdrie Professional Firefighters Association website.