The Community Harvest Food Bank is in the final stages of their annual Christmas hamper drive and volunteers have been as busy as elves on Christmas Eve.
Food bank president Deb McIntosh says that in spite of the curve ball COVID-19 threw this year, the Castlegar community has been just as generous as they always have been.
Several of the usual means for collecting holiday donations, including door-to-door food drives by local fire departments, have had to be cancelled to comply with COVID-19 guidelines, but the community has found new ways to gather the much needed supplies.
A drive-thru style food drive last week at the Station Museum raised over $7000 and collected three small truckloads of groceries.
The previous week, a similar event in Robson gathered $2600 and filled a trailer and a SUV with groceries.
“Those that came, really gave a lot,” said McIntosh.
This year, the food bank will deliver approximately 235 hampers that include food and gifts to area residents.
At this point, McIntosh said the most needed items to finish off the hampers would be $25 gift cards to local grocery stores, service providers or retailers.
“I think it is really important, now more than ever, that we support our small businesses,” said McIntosh. “If we purchase gift cards for people, it not only fills a void within the food bank’s gift-giving portion but also supports local small businesses and their staff.”
Christmas hampers will be delivered Dec. 18 and Dec. 19. The food bank will be closed from Dec. 20 to Jan. 3, but McIntosh will be available by phone if someone is in need during that time.
betsy.kline@castlegarnews.com
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