The local Save-On-Foods raised $1,600 for the Quesnel Salvation Army food bank as part of its Share it Forward event.
Save-On-Foods ran the company-wide event to raise money for local Salvation Army food banks across western Canada. The event ran June 15 to 17, and 25 per cent of the net proceeds from every Western Family product sold went to the local food bank.
The Quesnel Save-On-Foods raised more than they expected, says Rory Parr, the assistant manager. “[The fundraiser] was great,” he says.
In total, the company will donate $250,000 to local food banks across western Canada.
The donation comes at a good time for the local Salvation Army.
Major Randy Gatza with the Quesnel branch says they’re experiencing something of a food shortage for their food bank.
“It usually happens this time of year, every year. We just run low on certain foods, especially canned goods like soups and beans and Kraft Dinner, things like that.”
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He says the Salvation Army is often forced to make appeals to bring in more food during the summer months.
Coralee Oakes, North Cariboo MLA, says she learned about the shortage in a meeting at the Lions Club in Quesnel.
“I just want to make sure that people are supporting [the food bank],” says Oakes.
“A lot of times we don’t necessarily think of it this time of year. We often do food drives around Christmas time or different holidays,” she says, adding that people often forget that the food bank still needs donations in the spring and summer months.
More than 2,000 people use the food bank each year, says Gatza. Some come on a regular basis, while others only come once or twice.
He says they are looking for non-perishable donations of canned goods, beans, vegetable soups, and Kraft Dinner. Canned fruits and vegetables are also welcome.
heather.norman@quesnelobserver.com
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