The 2012 Holiday Train program will be riding the rails to raise money and awareness about hunger issues in Canada and the US, one stop at a time.

Again this year, the two trains will visit over 150 communities — beginning their journeys in Beaconsfield, Que, and Scranton, Pa. The train will be in Ponoka Dec. 10 at 4 p.m.

Entertainers on the Canadian train include Doc Walker, Miss Emily and the Brothers Dube.

Since 1999, the Holiday Train program has raised close to $6.4 million and about 2.6 million pounds of food for North American food banks. With families continuing to turn to food banks, the need is always present. Items such as infant formula, canned meats, and spaghetti sauce are in popular demand. Bring a non-perishable food item or money to the Ponoka event to support the food bank.

Each Holiday Train has 14 brightly decorated rail cars, including a modified boxcar that has been turned into a travelling stage for performers. They are each decorated with hundreds of thousands of technology-leading LED Christmas lights.