The Lakes District Food Bank is still far from reaching its donation goals before the end of the year.
Although the goal for the Holiday Spirit Funding Drive is $32,000, as of Friday the food bank had received $10,800.
READ MORE: Holiday campaigns in full swing in Burns Lake
Looking at the annual donation needs, although $54,000 is needed every year, the food bank has received $19,793 since April 1.
“If we don’t receive enough donations to continue the existing services, we will have to cut back, and this will leave people with very little access to food security,” explained food bank coordinator Candice Little.
According to Little, the food bank’s recent achievements may have given the community the perception that the organization doing “too well.”
“The food bank is doing well from a programming perspective through the generous contributions from the Village of Burns Lake, Food Banks Canada and Food Banks BC,” she said. “However, we need to be clear that these grants and contributions to our program doesn’t mean that we don’t need the support of our community in the same way we have in past years.”
The Village of Burns Lake has recently donated a building to the food bank while Food Banks Canada and Food Banks BC have contributed with grants. These grants have allowed the food bank to improve its refrigeration, increasing the storage capacity for perishable food items.
“Although these opportunities have greatly improved our programs and the service we are able to provide, it doesn’t provide the food items that we need to feed hungry families, nor the money to buy this food,” said Little. “These donations literally provide the meat and potatoes of our program.”
Every year the food bank receives a gaming grant that covers approximately 58 per cent of their annual funding. This means that the organization depends on community donations for the remaining 42 per cent.
“While we focus on a funding drive during this holiday season, our programs run throughout the year,” added Little. “Ongoing, regular donations would ensure that we have the money to buy the groceries needed to provide food security to those in need.”
The easiest way to donate to the food bank is through e-transfer to clittle.ldfes@gmail.com. Otherwise, cheques can be mailed to Box 777, Burns Lake, B.C., or dropped off at the Lakes District Family Enhancement Society office in room 118 in the College of New Caledonia building.
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