Residents will have an opportunity to help Powell River’s less fortunate on Saturday, September 15, during the second local installment of BC’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive.
Spearheaded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and involving volunteers from around the community, the drive aims to fill cupboards in time for Thanksgiving. Proceeds will be split as evenly as possible between the Powell River Action Now Food Bank, Salvation Army and Seventh Day Adventist Church.
The food drive begins with a bag drop early in the week, generally between Monday and Wednesday, explained Powell River coordinator Morris Kotyluk. Twenty routes covering Westview, Wildwood and Townsite will be split among volunteers, with each house being provided with a Safeway-sponsored bag and an informational flyer.
“We’ll be dropping bags off at about 4,200 houses this year,” said Kotyluk, adding that one route, which is usually handled by one or two people, can involve anywhere from 150 to 300 houses.
Those interested in donating are asked to leave their filled bags on their doorstep before 9:30 am on Saturday. Volunteers will come around to collect the bags before 1 pm.
The drive accepts all non-perishable items, including canned food, toothpaste, dog food and diapers. “There are some things that people don’t think to donate,” said Kotyluk. “For example, one of the things [food banks] really need right now is toilet paper.”
Kotyluk explained that apartments will not receive bags due to inaccessibility issues. Homeowners not included in the routes, he continued, can drop their contributions off at the collection point, 6952 Courtenay Street.
On collection day, all goods will be weighed and transported to local food banks, courtesy of Rona Building Centre. “Another thing that we are doing this year that we didn’t do last year is leaving thank-you cards for everybody who donates,” said Kotyluk.
Results of last year’s food drive were unbelievable, he said. Visiting only the Westview area, consisting of 14 routes, the drive collected almost 3,500 kilograms of goods. “Usually, for drives like this, we expect one third of those [who receive bags and flyers] to donate food,” explained Kotyluk, “but Powell River’s response rate was around half.”
Despite last year’s success, Kotyluk said the drive hasn’t set a target for this year. “I like what the lady from the food bank told me,” he explained. “She said, ‘If we get one bag, it’ll be more than what we have.’”
For more information about, or to volunteer at, Powell River’s food drive, interested readers can contact Kotyluk at 604.485.2729.
