Just as families and friends gathered for Thanksgiving last weekend, Stettler and District Food Bank and recipients of food hampers were grateful for the growing community support.
“This community is superb for its support for the food bank,” said Kathy Willis, the managing director for the past 15 years.
That includes residents, businesses and organizations.
“They have supported us in any way they can,” Willis said.
While the food bank has distributed an average of 114 hampers this year, up marginally from 112 last year, donations have flourished, she said.
That’s reflected in the number of generous donations during the annual food blitz held the first Monday of October with help from the Stettler Regional Fire and Rescue Department.
“We had much larger donations at the food drive,” Willis said.
“Economics of the community might be better than it was last year.”
For recipients of food hampers, 54 per cent are for households with children, she said, while the rest are for adult-only homes.
Over previous years, the food bank distributed 125 hampers in 2010, 120 in 2009, and 93 in 2008, thanks to the community support.
“Our food bank is fortunate that we don’t have to organize any food drives or campaigns,” Willis said. “The community and community groups initiate them for us.”
The Stettler food bank relies on residents in the region to donate food, because provincial and federal funding is not available for food banks.
Donations of food can be made at Sobeys and No Frills grocery stores in Stettler.
At this time, fresh vegetables and fruit are accepted, but not canned food and wild meat, Willis said.
Monetary donations help buy perishable products such as milk, eggs and meat.
Cheques can be mailed to Box 1492, Stettler.
Willis said activity at the food bank would be slightly disrupted as the Stettler United Church — where the food bank is located — undergoes renovations.
For more information, phone Willis at 403-742-4567.