Xmas is coming, support your local Food Bank

December 1, and only 24 days until Xmas. Your Food Bank needs your help now. Many Food Bank's are struggling with the increased load they have been asked to take up. The economy may be doing well, but that does not mean workers are doing well. Many people are struggling with low-paying jobs or illness that makes work difficult. The choice that many of our neigbours have to make, do I pay my rent, get my medication or put food on the table for myself and my children. The Food Bank fills a need, not just for the unemployed, but for seniors, single mothers, and working-class families. Many Food Banks not only provide food but they also provide, toys, gifts and Xmas meals.

In the United Kingdom, the Trussell Trust, which operates most of the UK’sfood banks, estimated that last year provided over 130,000 parcels of emergency food to people over the festive period. For those who used a food bank last year, they received a three-day parcel that included these festive extras:

Box of mince pies

Dried fruit and nuts

Christmas crackers (the kind with toys/jokes) Christmas pudding

Chocolate treats for children, e.g. a selection box Tinned ham or salmon

The above was in addition to the standard parcel for three to four which is:

1 large box of cereal/porridge

4 tins of vegetables

3 tins of meat (e.g. ham) or vegetarian alternatives (e.g. kidney beans, lentils and pulses)

if vegetarian 4 tins of fish (tuna, salmon, sardines etc)

4 tins of chopped tomatoes

2 tins of fruit

4 tins of soup

4 tins of baked beans

2 litres of UHT milk 1 litre of long life juice

2 tins of rice pudding or custard

1 packet of biscuits Tea or coffee

1.5kg of pasta/noodles/rice

In my community SHARE, Family Services runs the Food Bank and they tell us that Christmas time is a busy one for and a time when they work extra hard to support those in need in our community. They also provide Christmas Hampers and Toys for Children while running various fundraising initiatives such as food drives and their annual Christmas Wrap at Coquitlam Centre.

They remind us that it is also a great time for you to give back and get involved. You can volunteer at our Gift Wrap, host your own food drive or toy drive, raise money, donate food and or come out and volunteer at a Food Drive.

Last year SHARE Family Services provided Christmas Hampers to 1,800 Tri-Cities families. There were also 2,215 children and youth who received their Christmas toys through our Christmas program. The need has not gone down, it has gone up.

All Food Banks need help at this time of year, so if you can find the time, give of yourself, in addition to giving some money. You will feel good and that is what this time of year is all about, giving not receiving.