Many Vancouver Island individuals and families experience food insecurity, and local organisations are stepping up to help during the holiday season.
99.7 The River is bringing back its “Stuff the Truck” food drive for a second year, collecting non-perishable food and monetary donations to support the Campbell River Food Bank.
“Demand at the food bank is actually way up,” said Rickie Tyler, program director for 99.7 The River. “Just in the month of September, the Campbell River Food Bank served 3,200 people. That’s nearly 10 per cent of the Campbell River population, and their biggest demographic is children, followed by seniors.”
The event runs Saturday, Dec. 13, at Save-On-Foods, 1400 Dogwood St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Donations will help fill a truck provided by Adams Tarp and Tool.
Save-On-Foods will host a hot-dog barbecue by donation and display a table of items most needed by the food bank.
The “pallet challenge” returns this year. Participants are encouraged to buy a full pallet of food for $500 and challenge others to do the same.
Tyler said last year’s food drive raised about $10,000. “What was fun is seeing businesses — in particular the car dealerships — start challenging one another to buy a pallet,” she said. “So a lot of money and food was raised that way. It’s just great.”
Early donations are being accepted at The River’s drop-off point at Campbell River Toyota, 2785 N. Island Hwy.
