by Kyle Wells [email protected] Laughing Oyster Restaurant owner David Bowes is encouraging people to fill their hearts by filling grocery bags with items for the food bank and dropping them off at Dwight Hall on December 2 and 3.
The initiative is part of the restaurant’s Dicken’s Banquet taking place on Saturday, December 3. Advertised as a Community Christmas Party, the event is also partnering with Powell River Action Centre Food Bank to collect food donations.
Bowes said that last year’s event collected enough food to fill two vans with groceries. There is a Christmas tree in the hall that the food will be placed under, but the stage is also available if room runs out under the tree.
“We are setting a goal to double groceries this year and stock the food bank shelves right into January,” wrote Bowes in an email to the Peak. “A small consideration from the ‘haves’ can have enormous impact on the ‘have-nots.’”
Last year’s donations collected through this event helped the food bank considerably and contained not only basic staples but also holiday treats and foods with high nutrition. All such donations are appreciated.
Attendance at the banquet is not necessary to make a donation and the hall will be open from 2 to 5 pm on both Friday and Saturday for people to drop off food. Those who donate are asked to put their name on a piece of paper in the grocery bag so their generosity can be recognized in an advertisement.
In his email, Bowes drew attention to the recent Vital Signs report in which Powell River scored slightly above provincial average for the number of families living below the relative poverty line or depending on a safety net. These numbers confirm that the need is here.
“Many of us who complain about how our dollar doesn’t go as far have to realize that the cost of the basics [is] more than an annoyance for these good people that for many reasons have no way to increase their income to keep up,” wrote Bowes. “Things commonly considered needs are simply moved to the category of wants.”
