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Fill shelves during food fundraiser

Annual event grows to serve 50 communities

BC food banks help almost 100,000 people each month. Helping to provide donations to meet this need is the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive, coordinated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

This year’s week-long event has already begun and continues until Saturday, September 21. During the week, local volunteers are delivering donation bags to residential addresses. Those who want to participate can place non-perishable items in the bag and leave it out on their doorstep by 9:30 am on Saturday. Volunteers will pick up the bags and deliver them to Powell River Action Centre Food Bank, Salvation Army food bank and Seventh Day Adventist Church food bank.

Last year, 4,200 Powell River homes were visited and over 9,800 pounds of food were collected. This year, volunteers are hoping to do even better.

“We are pleased to be part of this community service,” said Collin Van Horne, president of the church’s Nanaimo stake. “Everyone benefits when we do something for those less fortunate. We hope for this annual effort to continue to grow and involve many, many more volunteers to canvass every household in BC.”

Established as a local effort in Burnaby in 2009, the Thanksgiving Food Drive has now expanded to include dozens of partner organizations and food banks serving some 50 communities throughout the province. Its fundamental purpose is to raise material and financial support for local food banks. For more information, readers can go online.