Editor:
We are all aware of the present housing crisis that is occurring in our communities up and down the Coast. This situation is very apparent at the food bank as we see many people doing their best to maintain their present home environment under an ever-increasing cost of living. From young family couples to the elderly on fixed incomes we are witnessing a significant increase in the need for the services we provide to those in need. As we all get ready for the holiday season, the volunteers and staff at the Sunshine Coast Food Bank want to thank our community for their continued compassion of donating to the food bank throughout the year. Here are some highlights of things you can do to support the food bank during the holiday season.
When it comes to large donations, such as school and company food drives, please note that Mondays and Thursdays are the best days of the week, and morning is the best time, for deliveries. We are open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on these days. Additionally, our annual giftwrapping fundraising activity will take place at Trail Bay Mall from Dec. 14 to 24. We have a friendly and energetic team of volunteers looking forward to wrapping your gifts. Your financial donations are very much appreciated as we are able to use these funds to purchase food products at significantly better pricing schedules through volume buying.
Recently, through our three time slots for distribution to our participants, we served 207 households representing 443 individuals. It is incredible to witness the volunteers who take the time to provide participants with as much as they are able under our budget constraints and at the same time be available for other types of support, including just being a friendly voice to share what is going on in their life. As you might imagine, there are many situations that will bring a tear to your eyes. The mosaic of life is uncertain, and in a moment people can have their lives turned upside down.
If you are a person or family that finds yourself stretched, we are here for you. In December we are open for service on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. We will be open for the first three weeks of the month and with the third week of service we will provide Christmas hampers to our participants. We open again on Jan. 7, 2019.
From all of us at the Sunshine Coast Food Bank, we wish the best for you and yours during the holiday season.
Norm Blair, Food Security Lead, Sunshine Coast Community Services Society
