More than 150 individuals require assistance from the Port Alberni District Food Bank and the Bread of Life Food bank on a weekly basis. Meeting this demand requires a continuing stream of contributions from the general public.
The BC Thanksgiving Food Drive (BCTFD) is a province-wide initiative organized to stock local food banks with essential items for those using their resources.
“We had phenomenal success across the province last year; in total we were able to collect some 250,000 pounds of food. And we’ve set our sights even higher this year by expanding our collection routes and reaching out to additional community partners,” said Andrew Rolfson, BCTFD executive director.
Local BCTFD volunteers will be delivering donation bags to residential addresses in Port Alberni during the second week of September. Those who receive a bag and wish to donate should simply fill it with non-perishable food items and leave it on their front step before 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15.
The bags will be picked up that day and delivered to a local donation centre.
“We anticipate having more than 6,000 volunteers throughout the province this year,” says Rolfson.
“We know many people wish to help, whether by volunteering or donating food. We welcome all who wish to participate, and hope we’ll be able to surpass last year’s results.”
Established in 2009 as a local effort to serve those in need of food bank services in Burnaby, B.C., the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive has now expanded to include dozens of partner organizations and food banks serving some 50 communities throughout the province.
Its fundamental purpose is to raise material and financial support for local food banks. For more information, visit bctfooddrive.org.