Sleeping in a tent on top of a moving truck in the winter may sound a little bit crazy.

But that’s exactly what firefighter Paul Stevens did from Friday Nov. 29 through Sunday Dec. 1. Why? To support the community that is always supporting them he said.

“It’s just a great way for (local) 2878 to give to the community; it just starts the season right,” Stevens said.

The whole idea was he would not come down until the truck was filled with donations for the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank and the Mt. Si Food Bank. It was successful — Stevens said the truck was filled with 30,000 pounds of food, clothing and toys by Sunday. And he didn’t freeze to death.

First Due Movers and the Eastside Firefighters Benevolent Fund partnered for the event for the third year; this was the second year the event was held in the Issaquah Fred Meyer parking lot. Firefighter Ben Lane said Fred Meyer was given a list of most needed items off the food bank’s lists, so they could stock up on what was needed. Then, paper grocery bags full of needed items were available inside the store for $9.44. Fred Meyer employees prepared 200 of the bags.

Items on the list included high protein foods like canned chili, tuna and peanut butter, baby items, canned foods, dried goods and personal care items such as shampoo, soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, laundry soap and cleaning products.

Lane said all of the clothing collected — new or gently used — would remain in Issaquah since it has the only clothing bank, and the rest of the donations — food and toys — would be sorted out and what was needed in Mt. Si was sent to its food bank.

The owners of First Due Movers — Jim Smith, Joe Lindsay and Jeff Drozdowski — are also firefighters with EFR, and have donated their truck each year. On top of the truck, camping out, Stevens said he had the easy job, although he said it was a little windy the second night.

“Every one just brings stuff to me,” he said holding a nice hot beverage in his hand. “The community has been supporting us, so it’s just a way for us do something nice for the community.”

Firefighter Jeff Drozdowski conducts tours of the fire engine during the EFR food and clothing drive Nov. 29 through Dec. 1 in the Issaquah Fred Meyer parking lot.

Eastside Fire and Rescue perched Santa’s sleigh on top of one of the fire engines during its food drive in the Issaquah Fred Meyer parking lot Nov. 29 through Dec. 1.