The Salvation Army food bank has been very busy this winter, and the organization is grateful to the community for supporting its work.
The Salvation Army received a $250 donation from Elks Lodge 298 Quesnel Feb. 15, and donations like this help buy fresh vegetables and meat for the homemade soups served in The Warrior’s Song Cafe or to buy items for the food bank.
“This January and February, we’ve been really busy,” says Salvation Army pastor Debbie Gatza. “We usually book by appointments, but with the cold weather, people just come in and say they need food.”
Gatza says lately, they’ve had 15 to 20 people a day coming in asking for food bank hampers, and they average 80 to 100 people a day dropping into The Warrior’s Song Cafe.
The Salvation Army offers a space for people to drop in for a hot coffee, a warm meal, conversation, a chance to play a game of pool or watch television at The Warrior’s Song Cafe, which is open from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Lunch starts at 11 a.m.
“They’re building friendships,” says Gatza. “It’s all about having that fellowship and friendship. The Salvation Army is very big on dignity and respect.”
Gatza says when people off the street come into The Warrior’s Song Cafe or the food bank, one of the things Salvation Army volunteers can do is help get them into an appointment or help them find housing.
“It’s connecting them to support groups in the community and getting them the help they need,” she says.
When someone comes to the food bank, they can get much more than food, including toiletries, hats, mitts and gloves.
Gatza says the Christmas kettle campaign is the Salvation Army’s only fundraising drive, but lots of groups, organizations, churches, schools and individuals donate throughout the year. Local stores donate food, and local farmers donate produce in the fall.
“There are times we have to buy groceries to fill the [food bank] shelves, and that’s where the kettle money comes in,” says Gatza.
Gatza is impressed with and grateful for how generous the community has been this year.
“This year, we are over the top with donations,” she says. “The giving this year was over the top. We have a lot of volunteers here, and they were overwhelmed. It’s a good problem to have. Quesnel is a very giving community. “
While the community is very generous in providing donations, Gatza says the community is also very generous in volunteering.
The Salvation Army has two staff members, and the rest are all volunteers
“There are a lot of different people who do different things,” says Gatza. “It’s pretty much run by volunteers. Prima and their staff volunteer to cook Tuesday to Friday.”
To continue feeding people in Quesnel this winter, the Salvation Army is hosting a fundraiser Thursday, Feb. 21 from 4-6:30 p.m. at The Warrior’s Song Cafe at 374 McLean Ave.
There will be a spaghetti dinner, a bake sale and a book sale, and homemade pies will be for sale. People can drop in and pay at the door or buy tickets for $10 at the Salvation Army Thrift Shop.