The Squamish Food Bank is in dire need, and organizers say just one day's worth of lunch money from locals would help feed the town's hungry families.The Food Bank is launching its first annual Lunch Money Week fundraiser Feb. 11 to the 16, inviting employers to encourage employees to hand over the cost of a ready-made lunch one day that week.Over 140 children and 260 adults go through the foodbank service, held every two weeks in downtown Squamish, and organizers say they're having trouble scraping together the funds to meet the need.
"We're broke," said head organizer Susan Newman. "So we're asking people, instead of going out and buying lunch, donate that money and brown bag it just one day of that week."
Squamish council resolved on Tuesday (Feb. 5) to grant the charity $15,000, which provides some breathing room, but not for long."Take a look at their deficit," said Coun. Corinne Lonsdale, "it's more than $15,000, so I'm certainly going to move that we make this available to them at this time."
The Food Bank requires approximately $40,000 a year, or $3,000 a month to meet the increasing demands. "It's not just the homeless," said Newman, "a lot of them are working poor. They've paid rent and don't have enough to get them through."
They give individuals and families enough food for approximately three days. Since the Food Bank is not affiliated with any other agencies or charities in town, it has since its inception relied entirely on donations. But donations have slowed dramatically in the last few years, and the few annual fundraising endeavours the organization holds can't make up for the shortfall.
Last year, former head organizer Joan Forry was forced to request $20,000 from the district after a significant shortfall -it was the first time the service required municipal assistance. This year, along with the Lunch Money event, residents can also sign up at Wal-Mart to win a raffle draw Valentine's Day gift basket. But Newman said the Food Bank will again request district funds this year, although not as much. "Ideally, we wouldn't have to ask for anything."
Newman said in the approximately seven years she's been with the Food Bank, she's seen the need grow tremendously. Recently, she said, the numbers have dipped a little since Kiewit construction has created a lot of jobs, but "I'm not looking forward to when they leave."To get involved, contact Susan Newman at 604-848-4316 or [email protected].
