It’s that time of year again on the Sunshine Coast, when those who have a little more than they need share it with those who have less.
The BC Thanksgiving Food Drive is geared up to start Monday – bags will be delivered during the week and picked up on Saturday, Sept. 15, starting at 9 a.m. Organizer Burns Matkin said the callout for volunteers was once again a success. “It worked,” he said. “We have recruited an entire school – well, at least the 4/5 classes of West Sechelt. They will be delivering 500 bags. Others have joined.”
Watch for bags on your doorstep or, if you have a long driveway, you can ask for a bag from your nearest food bank. If your house is missed in the Saturday collection or if you want to participate without receiving a bag, drop an email to suncoast.fooddrive@gmail.com.
The annual food drive is a major operation and provides vitally needed stock for food banks on the Sunshine Coast. Last year it brought in more than 6,350 kg (14,000 lb.) of non-perishables at the Sechelt Food Bank alone.
The Sechelt Food Bank also has plans later this month for blanching and freezing vegetables to store for distribution during the winter. They are asking the community to bring produce suitable for freezing to the food bank during the weeks of Sept. 17 and 24 between 9 and 11 a.m. from Monday to Wednesday. “We are also asking for those who want to assist in the kitchen preparing the produce,” said Norm Blair, food security lead for the Sunshine Coast Community Services Society. Anyone interested can call 604-885-5881 for more information.
Blair said the Sechelt operation currently has 652 households registered, accounting for more than 1,300 individuals and with new clients signing up every week. An average week at the food bank serves about 130 households, he said.
The growing season, he added, is “particularly helpful” since many Coast farmers and gardeners bring in their fresh produce. Of course, there’s no telling at this point what kind of impact the SCRD’s total outdoor watering ban will have on the volume of those deliveries.
Blair said the food bank is open to ideas about collaborations that could build local food capacity and notes that food security is important for everyone. And no one can argue with his catchphrase: “We all eat.”
