The Squamish Food Bank discovered the Christmas Spirit was alive and well right in the middle of summer, when the community came out to support its Christmas in July fundraising event on July 19 and 20.
Squamish Food Bank Society volunteers rang bells and solicited money and food donations in front of Nesters, Save-On-Foods and Extra Foods in hopes of bolstering the society’s reserves.
“We raised over $2,300 and a truckload of food,” said Lorna Van Straaten, president of the society.
She said the food bank consistently gives aid to some 500 people every month during the year, and is always in need of donations to keep its programs running, especially in the summer.
“The issue is that hunger in the community is a year-round concern,” Van Straaten said. “Usually, the biggest fundraising time is at Christmas, because that’s when people are feeling generous and want to contribute to the community. But, just because it is summer doesn’t mean people aren’t hungry.”
Most of the supplies and cash needed to run the food bank come from personal and local business donations, as well as grants from entities like Whistler Blackcomb, Van Straaten said.
“The community really does support us,” she said. “But there are still gaps and our numbers are still up.”
For info email [email protected] or call (604) 815-7332.
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