By Heidi Nielsen
Published: July 20, 2013
On Saturday July 20th and Sunday July 21st from 10am – 3pm, volunteers will be outside each of the three stores, Nesters, Save On Foods and Extra Foods to receive any grocery or cash donations that the community is willing to give.
Squamish’s three grocery stores are supporting the Squamish Food Bank to encourage shoppers to purchase one bag of groceries each for the Squamish Food Bank.
Any cash or cheque donations over $10 are eligible to receive a tax receipt. The board and volunteers will be available to answer questions about the food bank and to learn more about volunteering for it.
The Squamish Food Bank is a non-profit charitable organization that provides food to those in need.
The food bank is open on the first and third Wednesday of every month and presently operates out of the Alano Club located at 37978 3rd Ave.
Recipients who are looking for a hamper of food are encouraged to arrive anytime after 9:30 to receive a number and when the doors open, the number is handed in and ID is presented to be able to receive a hamper of food.
We need to work together to support people in need because at any point it could be someone you know needing help.
Poverty affects many people. It has been said that we are all just two paychecks away from having to access the Food Bank.
The Food Bank does not receive ongoing government funding of any kind, and although it does receive DOS funding, that this is not guaranteed as the application process is done annually.
The Food Bank relies entirely on donations and the community to keep its doors open.
Recently, a new food bank coordinator was hired to bring renewed energy and fresh insights on how best to serve the people.
Christina Rupp has volunteered with the Breakfast Club and Helping Hands Society and has a strong interest in supporting the community that she and her family have lived in for the last 12 years, particularly those around her in need.
Rupp is working to improve the quality of food in the hampers, including more fresh vegetables. Something she would like to see are donations of home grown produce, other food banks are calling this idea “grow a row”, just one way to incorporate better nutrition in food bank hampers.
Most importantly the success of the Food Bank would not be possible without the support of the community of Squamish and helpful organizations like Nesters Market, Save On Foods, Extra Foods, Helping Hands Society, Shaw Cable, Greg Gardner Motors, Shoppers Drug Mart, the District of Squamish and many more community partners.
The food bank is extremely grateful to the volunteers, businesses and organizations that support and keep the food bank doors open to the community.
Please support Squamish Food Bank and the Christmas in July Fundraiser on Saturday July 20th or Sunday July 21st by purchasing a bag of groceries for the people in your community that are most in need.
