By Emily Keller

Food bank drive

Rotary Community Food Bank Drive to happen this month

Sep 5, 2019 | 5:30 AM

The Rotary Community Food Bank Drive will happen September 17.

Volunteers will be going door to door between 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., collecting food donations.

The drive has taken place for over 20 years and the Rotary Clubs of Grande Prairie run the annual campaign to collect food for the Grande Prairie and Area Salvation Army Food Bank.

Currently, one in three single parent families in Grande Prairie live below the poverty line.

In 2018, the drive saw a record 52 tons of food donated and stored within three hours.

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Captain Peter Kim, Executive Director of the Salvation Army in Grande Prairie, says every year they have seen in increase in donations.

“Every year has almost been a record-breaking year, so we’re very thankful for the generosity of our community to be able to help ensure that food security happens for those who can’t afford the food.”

He adds that last year, 29,378 people were served in Grande Prairie and that 2,950 hampers were given out.

Kim says people are also able to donate through the website.

“If they want to donate monetary, because we don’t always get the items that we need, so with those monetary donations we’re able to shop and purchase the other items that are missing for the food hampers.”

Along with the drive, there will be the Rotary Community Food Bank Drive kick-off event on September 12 at 10:45 a.m. at the Eastlink Centre field house.

The Rotary Clubs encourage local businesses and community members to donate $300 towards sponsoring a team at the event, and teams will also take part in an obstacle course.

This year’s event will be based on the game of “Life.” The $300 donations will go directly to purchasing needed items for the Food Bank and their goal is to have 50 sponsors for the kick-off event.

Items that can be donated include:

• non-perishable Items; canned protein, hearty soups, canned fruits and vegetables, school snacks
• dry goods
• unopened personal hygiene items
• baby items; diapers (sizes 4 & 5), non-perishable baby food

More information on the Food Drive is available here, including volunteer registration, about monetary donations, and information on the Food Bank and kick-off event.