Close to 1000 people gathered in the Bradley Centre parking lot Friday afternoon as the CP Holiday Train pulled into town.

Sam Roberts Band on stage on the CP Holiday Train, November 30, 2018. Photo courtesy of Chris Taylor.

Along with live entertainment from Sam Roberts Band and JoJo Mason, donations were being accepted for local food banks.

Brenda LeClair, Executive Director of Outreach for Hunger, says the outpouring of support also included a $5000 cash donation from CP Rail.

“It’s going to be a great help for us over the holiday season,” LeClair says. “CP Rail has done so much for food banks across the country, and Chatham Outreach for Hunger is very happy to be part of that.”

This is the 20th year for the Holiday Train, which has raised over 14.5 million dollars and in excess of 4 million pounds of food for those in need across North America.