Heading into the holiday season, the Kitimat Food Bank’s annual food drive proved a great success as volunteers canvassed neighbourhoods, collecting food and household items for families in need. Residents responded with an outpouring of donations, bringing relief as the food bank prepares for the busy months ahead.
"I don’t have the official count, but I know we did better than last year," said Tammy Comeau, a Kitimat Food Bank director who organized the drive. She expressed her gratitude for the thoughtfulness of the donations. "Just looking into the bags, it was very thoughtfully done. People weren’t on autopilot, just throwing in six cans of food; you can see there was a lot of pride in the donations, and a lot of thought given to the details."
This year's drive benefited from the support of local volunteers, who distributed donation bags to households and later returned to collect the filled ones. Although earlier in the year, the food bank had expressed an urgent need for more volunteers, all 34 routes were filled by the time of the event.
"It was so nice. People were happy to help," Comeau noted. "The kids see it like an Easter egg hunt. They’re walking down the road looking for bags, and then get all excited when they see one."
The Kitimat Food Bank is in a strong position heading into the holiday season, according to its president, Marjorie Phelps. “We’re doing really well right now. Our shelves are going to be full,” she said.
Despite the success, the food bank is reminding residents that donations are still welcome, especially as private food drives continue throughout the community, often organized by schools and local institutions. In addition to food, household items such as toiletries, dish soap, and napkins are also greatly appreciated. The food bank relies on these donations, as they primarily purchase food to stock the shelves.
Cash donations are also encouraged, as they allow the food bank to purchase food in bulk and take advantage of special agreements with suppliers that individual donors might not have access to. These contributions help ensure the continued support of local families through the holiday season.
