‘Can Man Dan’ camps out to raise food and toys
It’s the generosity of Edmontonians that keep Can Man Dan warm during his lengthy campouts to raise food and toy donations throughout the holiday season.
This year, Edmonton activist Dan Johnstone vows to complete five camp-outs, ranging between three and five nights each, to collect donations for the Edmonton Food Bank and Santas Anonymous. “I had some extra time on my hands this holiday season and I said, ‘Hey, why not? Let’s do five camp-outs,’” Johnstone said of the increase from four camp-outs in 2017. “I couldn’t think of a better way to use my vacation time.”
Johnstone is currently on his third camp-out, sleeping in his collection truck at Famous Toys, 2403 91 St., until Sunday evening to generate toy donations for Santas Anonymous. His second quest at the start of the month raised 20,000 pounds of food for the food bank.
Without a numerical goal, Johnstone said the motto this year is to ensure “every child has a gift to open up on Christmas Day and a hot meal to eat.”
The two organizations had a large impact on Johnstone’s childhood growing up under the poverty line and raised by his single mother, he said.
“Times were tough for us most weeks,” he said. “I have a soft spot in my heart for the kids. They deserve the best, whatever I can do to help them.”
Famous Toys is getting involved in the fundraiser by marking more than two million items up to 70 per cent off to help residents donate toys.
“Edmontonians take care of Edmontonians. Famous Toys is living proof of that,” Johnstone said.
He said families are showing up at all times of the day to add gifts to his collection.
“People are scrounging up a couple extra bucks saying ‘Dan, this is all we have to offer,’” he said.
The current camp-out has presented the most challenges so far, Johnstone said, as temperatures have plummeted the past few nights.
But the strain on the body is worth it, he added.
“I can suffer a few nights, up to a month, so everyone can have something to enjoy,” Johnstone said.
Can Man Dan has two more camp-outs to collect food and toy donations this holiday season.
He will be at the Heritage Safeway, 2304 109 St., from Dec. 13-16; and the Southbrook Sobeys, 1109 James Mowatt Trail, from Dec. 22-24.