Quality Foods and the Nanaimo News Bulletin will once again team up for the Christmas is for Giving campaign, which aids families in need.
The food drive, which lasts from mid-November until December, sees a specifically printed paper bag included with various Black Press newspapers, including the Nanaimo News Bulletin. The bags can be filled with non-perishable food items and dropped off.
“They can simply drop it off at any Quality Foods store, the Nanaimo News Bulletin or the [Loaves and Fishes] food bank address, which is listed on the bag,” said Quality Foods marketing director Rob MacKay.
More than 27,200 kilograms of food was collected for food banks on the Island last year, according to a conservative estimate from MacKay and he expects the same amount will be collected this year, although he is hoping for more. He also said that there was a bit of apprehension prior to the start of last year’s campaign.
“We were a little concerned last year that [food donations] might be down, with the economy and everybody kind of tightening up a bit, but what we found was that people were actually understanding of that and actually were very generous in helping out wherever they could,” he said, adding there was an increase in giving.
MacKay said that while food banks seek donations year-round, the need increases around Christmas and holiday time.
“Especially at this time of year, the need is much greater than other times of the year,” MacKay said. “We’ve never had a year yet where they’ve said, ‘No thanks, we’re good, we have enough stuff, thank you very much.’ It hasn’t happened yet.”
The specially marked bags are included with today’s (Nov. 12) paper.
