Share Family and Community Services is a month shy of its food needs and, to ensure the Tri-Cities' three food banks have enough to last through to spring, people need to keep giving.
Interim CEO Roxann MacDonald says the holiday season is typically when food is donated and so it has to last for the winter months, and she said she hopes people will continue to be generous over the next few weeks to ensure there's enough food to feed everybody into the new year.
"The Tri-Cities has already been generous and together it makes a difference. We can't do it without your help," MacDonald said.
People can still put food items into Share bins at local grocery stores, purchase $2 Food Banks BC Sharing Coupons at the till or donate online and receive a tax receipt.
MacDonald said cash is easier for the food bank to store and can go to provide other essentials, but she welcomes food items and assures the community they will be appreciated by the 1,200 food bank users.
Firefighters collected food from School District 43 schools before the winter break — some 11,000 lb. worth — and food is still being collected from special events and grocery stores from around the community.
But on Friday, a week before Christmas, staff noticed that the stockpile was about three skids shy — or about 15,000 food items — of what's needed.
The food collected during the holidays is essential, MacDonald noted, because donations typically drop off after the holidays.
• To donate online, visit www.sharesociety.ca
