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Food bank drive successful

Local agencies benefit from province-wide initiative

A recent food bank drive netted over 1,600 pounds of non-perishable food for Powell River agencies.

The BC Thanksgiving Food Drive is sponsored province-wide by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Food Banks British Columbia. Collection day in Powell River was on September 17 and 66 volunteers donated more than 122 hours of service to the community, visiting 424 homes. They collected 1,601 pounds of non-perishable food for Powell River Action Centre Food Bank, Seventh Day Adventist food bank and the Powell River branch of the Salvation Army.

The Powell River event was aided by participation from Rona Building Centre and Safeway, which contributed material and financial support to local operations in addition to the volunteers, facilities, transportation and other services they provided.

Across the province, food drive volunteers collected an estimated 247,605 pounds of food for more than 30 local food banks. The total value of all financial and material support raised this year exceeded $672,852.

Over half of all households that rely on food banks are families with children and half of these are headed by single parents. Nearly 40 per cent of recipients of food bank assistance are under the age of 18. Other vulnerable groups include low-wage earners, those with inadequate employment and people on disability assistance.