If you have any questions about Hope Lutheran Church's donations to the Share Family and Community Services food bank each week for the last 10 years, you can count on Claus Schultz.
The longtime Port Coquitlam church congregant — who was once a bookkeeper — has kept such meticulous records, he can tell you in a moment what the collection was for any week since 2007.
For example, on Nov. 13, 2007, the church donated $280 to the food bank.
“People tend to be more generous at Christmas,” Schulz acknowledges, flipping through a lined notebook in which the weekly donations are listed neatly in blue ink.
“It’s got to be based on faith, people don’t give money for just anything,” Schultz says, citing the biblical passage Matt. 25:35: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.”
In the beginning, the church collected money to give to Share to purchase non-perishable food items, and later expanded to giving fresh fruits and vegetables.
Now, the church raises funds to supply Share hampers with 800 lb. of potatoes each week, enough for a couple pounds for each hamper as well as carrots, when they are in season.
In fact, as of Oct. 16, the church had contributed 30,400 lb. of potatoes delivered from Heppell’s Farm, plus 1,1,60 lb. of carrots and 148 lb. of non-perishables, to Share.
The church’s generosity has not gone unnoticed.
“To have donations provided weekly is the best help,” said Jillian Ratcliffe, Share's food bank supervisor.
Although donations of non-perishables are appreciated, cash enables Share to purchase supplemental food such as dairy and other fresh produce that is not always available.
Together, Ratcliffe and Schultz hope other donors consider planned giving on a regular basis.
For more information about Share and its programs, including the upcoming Christmas programs, visit sharesociety.ca
