The Tri-Cities heeded recent calls for help, enabling Share Family and Community Services to distribute 900 holiday food hampers to families in need today (Wednesday).
Before last week's food drive, Share spokesperson Katherine Lawrence was worried there wouldn't be enough food to go around but after 5,279 pounds of food and $20,000 cash were dropped off at the Sunwood Square Safeway, her concerns were alleviated.
Local schools also came to the rescue, with more than half the schools in the district dropping off food last week. And on Saturday, 600 pounds of food came in from a single group.
"The food drive on Thursday will complete our hampers for this Christmas, we're delighted about that," Lawrence said, adding that food is still coming in and more is needed to fill hampers in January.
In other good news, Share has been able to put grocery gift cards with larger denominations than in past years into hampers so families can buy what they need for the holidays. The value of the gift cards increased from $10 to $15 for small hampers, from $15 to $30 for medium hampers for a family of four, and from $20 to $40 for a family of five or more, thanks to donations, Lawrence said.
Today is the second day of distribution of holiday hampers. The first 900 went out to registered recipients last Wednesday. In all, about 1,800 Tri-City families will get holiday hampers and about half of those benefitting from hampers are children.
To help or for more information, visit www.sharesociety.ca
