The B.C. Thanksgiving Food Drive is aiming to provide Squamish residents with some much-needed grub.
Sept. 26 is collection day.
Donation bags and boxes will be picked up on that morning and brought directly to Squamish Food Bank where they will be sorted and stocked by volunteers.
This year, to cut down on single-use plastic bags, volunteers will be delivering flyers only and are asking participants to put food donations in a previously used box or bag.
In Squamish, the event involves about 100 volunteers lending a hand.
In 2019, volunteers visited 4,000 homes, and collected more than 8,000 pounds of non-perishable food for the Squamish Food Bank.
The local event is co-ordinated by the Squamish Multifaith Association in partnership with the Squamish branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Squamish Food Bank.
"With the support of the B.C. Thanksgiving Food Drive, our food bank can support those who are in need in our community. We need your help now more than ever. Many people in Squamish experience food shortages causing them and their children to go without meals and proper nutrition. COVID-19 has resulted in the demand for our services increasing by 230% as folks in our community battle job loss and financial hardship," reads a news release from the food drive's organizing committee.
"We aim to stock our shelves with healthy food options to promote overall health and well-being to those using our service, including seniors, those on disability or assistance, those on low incomes, families, and children.
"Your contributions during this food drive, with non-perishable food items or cash donations, are an important part of supporting those facing food insecurity in Squamish. Please give generously and if donating food, please be mindful of expiry dates! If we receive food that is expired, we are unable to use it and the food bank loses out financially in disposal costs. Last year we received 8,000 pounds of donated food and had very little waste – let's do even better this year! From everyone at the foodbank, staff and volunteers, we thank you for your support."
For more information or to volunteer, please contact squamishfooddrive@gmail.com.
