Every week the Sunshine Coast Food Bank opens its doors to provide food for those in need. Presently there are 423 households that utilize the service on a regular basis representing 879 individuals of which more than 30 per cent are children. A program that is financed completely by community donations and operated by one staff person and a committed team of volunteers, it is incredible what is gathered, stored and distributed to the participants.
In an effort to gain better knowledge of the nutrition that is provided each week, the food bank is now engaged with a nutritionist from Vancouver Coastal Health. Meghan Molnar will review the monthly selections and generate a nutrition profile of the food supplied to the participants. Another addition to increase the nutritional value of the food bank pantry we will be blanching vegetables. There will be a number of sessions of bringing community members together to process local produce, which will be frozen and inventoried in our walk-in freezer for distribution during the winter months. If you have excess fresh produce suitable for such a purpose we would like to receive your donation. Contact Norm at 604-885-5881 or email [email protected] to arrange a time for delivery. If you would like to participate in any of the sessions please visit our website at www.sccss.ca
In closing, we want to express our gratitude, appreciation and joy for all the food that arrived at our doorstep last Saturday. We were busy organizing over 6,350 kg (14,000 lbs) of food at our Sechelt location while other food banks on the Sunshine Coast were doing the same. Close to 90 volunteers worked through the week distributing then gathering the food bags that were left on doorsteps in the region as part of the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive. If somehow you were missed, you can bring your donation to the food bank Monday to Thursday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.
