The official numbers are in.
The BC Thanksgiving Food Drive raised 23,450 pounds of food on the Sunshine Coast this year – and the actual amount is higher from late uncounted donations, area coordinator Burns Matkin said last week.
Matkin said the results exceeded all the goals for every food bank on the Coast – the Salvation Army and St. Bart’s food banks in Gibsons, the Sunshine Coast Food Bank in Sechelt and the Pender Harbour food bank.
“In some areas the returns were greater than 33 per cent, which is phenomenal,” Matkin said.
The annual drive and Sept. 21 collection involved 150 volunteers this year.
Matkin expressed gratitude to the generous donors. “The food banks have more and better choices now,” he said. But he added: “Please don’t stop helping with the food banks. Eventually, even this amount will run out.”
Businesses that helped with bags this year were Sunshine Coast GM, Rona Coast Builders, Mark’s in Gibsons, Gibsons Building Supplies and Sunshine Coast Credit Union. As well, Gibsons Fasteners and Sunshine Coast GM helped with trucks and Coast Reporter provided publicity.
