Students from Brooks Secondary School are working to make the holidays a little brighter for those in the community who are less fortunate.
For the fourth year, Brooks’ personal fitness grade 11/12 class is organizing a five-kilometre Jingle Jog fun run or walk on Sunday, December 15.
Sarah Hoelzley is a grade 12 student event organizer. “People are running for a good cause,” she said, explaining the cause “is for people and families who wouldn’t have a big Christmas or a lot of money to spend on presents.”
Last year over 200 people participated, raising $2,700 for Powell River Action Centre Food Bank.
Gina Kendrick is a volunteer organizer at the food bank.
“This time of year is especially hard,” she said. “We’re being slammed right now because the weather is cold and people are paying heating bills and everything is expensive.”
So far, during the month of November, the food bank has helped 785 people, about 300 families, she said. “It used to be one per cent were seniors, now we’re seeing seven per cent seniors and pensioners. Across the province 30 per cent of food bank clients are children, in Powell River it’s 34 per cent.”
She estimates there has been a 23 per cent increase in the usage of food banks since 2007. “We’re seeing lots more families than ever before. Our shelves are just about empty. We’re trying to keep up, but it’s a really hard time for everybody.”
She estimates that hampers for singles contain $40 to $50 of food, while hampers for families may have a $100-value.
“We’re giving out quite a lot of food each month,” she added. “Money donations are what keep us going.”
Kendrick said that while the food bank appreciates any kind of donations—money or food—cash helps most because the basics, peanut butter, rice, sugar and beans, are bought in bulk during sales and make up the foundation of each hamper.
“Every penny we get is spent in Powell River and we’re all volunteers,” she added, explaining that only about a third of food banks in the province remain completely volunteer-operated.
During the holidays, the food bank likes to give out a little extra to clients, but “if we don’t have it, we don’t have it,” she said.
People interested in helping out with food donations can place non-perishable food items in the boxes at Safeway and Save-On-Foods. “This is crucial this time of year,” she said.
Brooks students are hoping that their efforts will help meet the increased need and give runners a high, not only from their run but from helping out.
“We’re hoping to get even more [participants] this year,” said grade 12 student Naomi Parkhouse. She said a Facebook event page has been set up for the run and it already has about 300 people saying they will attend this year. “That’s exciting.”
The event starts and finishes at Willingdon Beach and the course runs along the North Beach Trail loop with a few blocks along Laburnum after the mid-point. The walk starts at 9:30 am and the run starts at 10 am.
This is strictly a fun event and participants are encouraged to dress in red and white holiday attire. Holiday treats will be provided at the finish line. “Wear your Santa hats—red or green,” said grade 11 student Mary Maguire. “Just dress for the holidays. Bells are encouraged.”
A $10 entry fee is being charged for the event, with a $20 family rate. Organizers will also collect any cash donations for the food bank above and beyond the event fees. Cash donations to the food bank are tax deductible.
People interested in participating have three options for registering. They can do so online before Friday, December 13, at www.avidfitness.ca, in person at Avid Fitness Center (102–7373 Duncan Street), at Brooks and River City Coffee or on race day from 8 to 9:15 am in the start area.
