Donations from the 2018 Cram the Ambulance campaign. (Facebook photo/WPD Ambulance Care)

By Keaton Brown

packed with joy

WPD Ambulance’s annual Cram the Ambulance campaign is back for another holiday season

Nov 21, 2019 | 2:00 PM

WPD Ambulance is used to delivering first rate health care to residents of the Battlefords, but over the Christmas season they will also be delivering a little holiday cheer.

The Santa’s EMS Elves: Cram an Ambulance campaign is back for another year, delivering some holiday joy to the less fortunate children in the Battlefords area.

Amanda Landry administrative assistant for WPD Ambulance said that they have already begun preparations for this year’s event.

“Yesterday our EMS teams dropped off letters to local businesses. [The letters] ask if they would like a toy bin at their business to collect the new and unused toys from the community. Businesses that are interested then call our office and we drop off all the collection boxes on November 29,” she said.

The bins will stay at the businesses collecting donations from the community until they are ready for pick up on December 18.

Made in Saskatchewan

Find My Plus One: The Canadian App for Getting Out and Living Your Best Life

Mar 09, 2026

Riderville

Ask Not for Whom the Ed Hervey Tampering Window Opens!

Feb 02, 2026

Seniors Scene

New Year - New Habits

Feb 02, 2026

“We try to get our community to donate new or unused toys for our local children. After we pick up all the bins we take all the toys to the Battlefords district food bank and they are wrapped and added to the Christmas hampers that they give out,” she said.

The Cram the Ambulance program has been running since 2005. It was inspired by members of the WPD Ambulance staff. In 2006 the campaign was able to stuff one ambulance full of toys. Since then, WPD Ambulance has crammed 24 ambulances with all the donations going to the Battleford’s Empty Stocking Fund.

Landry said members of WPD Ambulance enjoy putting on campaigns like this one because it lets them not only give back to their community but also spread a little joy during the holiday season.

“When you think of the District Food Bank you think of the Christmas hampers with food in them. With this we give out toys for children and hopefully every child gets a present to open on Christmas day and it will bring them a smile of joy,” she said.

Battlefords residents who would like to donate to the program are encouraged to keep their eyes open for local businesses that will have donation bins starting Friday, November 29. If people are not able to make their donations at a local business they can be dropped off at the WPD Ambulance office at 10013A Thatcher Avenue in the Parsons Industrial Park from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

—

Keaton.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow