Our Food bank is almost entirely funded by the community and the support of the community groups and I was privileged this week to have a chance to meet and talk with the members of three of these groups as part of my role as a Board member of SHARE Family Services.
On Thursday I had an opportunity to speak to Weight Watchers in Port Coquitlam who are taking part in the National Loose for Good program run by Weight Watchers. This is the third year of the program where Weight Watchers is teaming up with meetings members, Weight Watchers Online subscribers and their charitable partner to help fight hunger in Canada. As their members lose weight, Weight Watchers will make a donation and provide other benefits valued at up to $50,000 to Food Banks Canada to help feed children and families in need.
The Lose For Good campaign is already in full swing and the Coquitlam group is off to a good start. There are more ways than ever to get involved. If you are a member of Weight Watchers I would encourage you to visit a participating meeting to donate food or contribute directly to Food Banks Canada.
When I spoke to the Weight Watchers group I told them that according to our Food Bank Supervisor Leanne, we needed the following types of food: soup, canned fruit, juice, canned meats, canned veggies, pasta, fish, meat, peanut butter/jam, rice and Ensure and of course cash. Food Banks operate very close to the wire and we like most food banks have about two weeks of food on hand at any one time.
On Saturday SHARE Family Services hosted a thank you picnic consisting of hot dogs and beans for the members of the five Rotary clubs in the Tri-Cities because of their hard work in supporting the food bank over the last year. The members of the Rotary that I met had an opportunity to have a tour of the food bank and to see how we operate and how needed is their contribution. The Tri-Cities Rotary members will be out and about in the next few weeks at our local grocery stores, collecting for the Food Bank, if you see them thank them and please help.
On Saturday afternoon just as we were cleaning up from the picnic for the Rotary, the Food Bank truck drove up with 8,000 pounds of food from the Church of Latter Day Saints who had held food drive that day. Some of the younger members of church came to help unload the food and Heather gave them a tour of the Food Bank. They asked some interesting questions and I think were surprised that we were not government funded.
Two years ago our Food Bank staff told the Board that there was about a 30% increase in the demand for the Food Bank service, however our community responded to help us fill the need. However, although the increase in demand has slowed it has not gone down and we now have a new normal. So your local Food Bank still need your ongoing support and help by either food donations, volunteering or cash donations and has we move into fall and Chrismas the demand will not go away, so if you can support your local Food Bank
On Thursday I had an opportunity to speak to Weight Watchers in Port Coquitlam who are taking part in the National Loose for Good program run by Weight Watchers. This is the third year of the program where Weight Watchers is teaming up with meetings members, Weight Watchers Online subscribers and their charitable partner to help fight hunger in Canada. As their members lose weight, Weight Watchers will make a donation and provide other benefits valued at up to $50,000 to Food Banks Canada to help feed children and families in need.
The Lose For Good campaign is already in full swing and the Coquitlam group is off to a good start. There are more ways than ever to get involved. If you are a member of Weight Watchers I would encourage you to visit a participating meeting to donate food or contribute directly to Food Banks Canada.
When I spoke to the Weight Watchers group I told them that according to our Food Bank Supervisor Leanne, we needed the following types of food: soup, canned fruit, juice, canned meats, canned veggies, pasta, fish, meat, peanut butter/jam, rice and Ensure and of course cash. Food Banks operate very close to the wire and we like most food banks have about two weeks of food on hand at any one time.
On Saturday SHARE Family Services hosted a thank you picnic consisting of hot dogs and beans for the members of the five Rotary clubs in the Tri-Cities because of their hard work in supporting the food bank over the last year. The members of the Rotary that I met had an opportunity to have a tour of the food bank and to see how we operate and how needed is their contribution. The Tri-Cities Rotary members will be out and about in the next few weeks at our local grocery stores, collecting for the Food Bank, if you see them thank them and please help.
On Saturday afternoon just as we were cleaning up from the picnic for the Rotary, the Food Bank truck drove up with 8,000 pounds of food from the Church of Latter Day Saints who had held food drive that day. Some of the younger members of church came to help unload the food and Heather gave them a tour of the Food Bank. They asked some interesting questions and I think were surprised that we were not government funded.
Two years ago our Food Bank staff told the Board that there was about a 30% increase in the demand for the Food Bank service, however our community responded to help us fill the need. However, although the increase in demand has slowed it has not gone down and we now have a new normal. So your local Food Bank still need your ongoing support and help by either food donations, volunteering or cash donations and has we move into fall and Chrismas the demand will not go away, so if you can support your local Food Bank
