(The following article by Heather Asiyanbi was posted on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel website on December 11.)
STURTEVANT, Wisc. — Scores of people gathered in the drizzle Thursday night to watch the Canadian Pacific Railway’s 2004 Holiday Train chug into the village – and to donate about $1,000 and 2,100 pounds of food to the Racine County Food Bank.
At exactly 9:15 p.m., the train pulled into the Amtrak depot on Wisconsin St. to various expressions of amazement from children gathered to greet the train.
Leticia Gomez and her son, Sergio, braved the weather to experience the train for the first time.
Sergio liked the train, the music and especially the lights.
“The decorations are really nice, and the train is so big,” he said. “I’d really like to come again next year.”
The train, complete with St. Nick himself, was decorated with thousands of lights and three Christmas trees riding on top of one of the rail cars.
CPR supports the train’s journey each year through cities in North America to promote giving to local food banks.
Retired rail workers donate their time to hang hundreds of strands of lights on the rail cars, each one with a different design.
The festivities began an hour before the train’s arrival with a performance by the St. Sebastian School choir.
Spectators gathered under tents to drink hot cocoa and coffee and munch on food donated by JQ Foxes Tavern, across the street.
CPR presented the food bank’s Mary Lofty with a check for $500, and Dave Blank, executive director of the Racine County Convention and Visitors Bureau, presented a check to Lofty for $150 from the Mount Pleasant Kiwanis Club.
“See why this is so great?” Village President Steve Jansen said. “The whole community comes out to support the food bank and, really, each other, too.”
Laura Baenen, speaking for the railroad, agreed.
“Last year, in the pouring rain, we had a good crowd with a good donation, and that enthusiasm is why we came back this year,” she said. “It’s a great thing to see communities pulling together to make this event such a success.”
After the train came to a stop, a rail car opened up to reveal a stage.
John Cowan and Beverley Mahood, accompanied by several musicians, sang holiday favorites and other songs while Santa passed out train whistles.
Frank Fabio is a postal employee who helps organize the annual food drive.
He helped collect food and money for the Holiday Train because he likes these kinds of events and thinks they should become an annual tradition.
“This is exactly the kind of function you want to bring the kids out to,” Fabio said. “We got here a good 11/2 hours before the train pulled in to enjoy the choir, help collect donations and just be part of the activities.”