While it may seem we live in a wealthy corner of the world, there are still those on the Sunshine Coast who go to bed without a proper meal.
Rev. Peter van der Leelie of St. Bart's Anglican Church in Gibsons, noticed this and, starting in September, will be reviving the church's food bank to help meet that need.
"It's interesting because there are a lot of poor folk here and there are a lot of fairly rich folk here, and I think the poor folk kind of get overlooked," he said. "There are families here who are trying to make it on the old $10 an hour sort of thing, so we just help supplement that."
Van der Leelie said he particularly noticed a need for extra food among young people who can find work only in the service industry and consulted with other food banks on the Coast before he and the parish council decided to begin collecting and distributing food donations.
He said St. Bart's food bank will work on a slightly different basis than most other food banks, which he said often require a "means test" before giving out food.
"It's really condescending to ask the poor how poor they really are. So some people cheat, but that might be three to five per cent of the whole bunch, so really, what does it matter? We don't ask anyone for their bank statement, or 'let's see a welfare cheque' or anything like that," he said. "When you give something, it shouldn't be conditional, and that's where we're really coming from."
He said all that residents who wish to register with the food bank need to provide is their B.C. Care Cards, so the church can tailor its donations to the individual or families that come in.
Starting Wednesday, Sept. 15, the food bank will operate from 1 to 3 p.m. and will continue on the third Wednesday of each month. People can drop off food for the food bank at St. Bart's from 10 a.m. to noon, Tuesday to Thursday. The church will provide tax receipts for financial donations.
Van der Leelie said he invites other churches to partner with the St. Bart's congregation to help tide people over.
For more information on registering and donating, call 604-886-7410.
