Most of the volunteers who spent Saturday morning collecting food from 400 homes in Qualicum Beach and Parksville for the Salvation Army had completed their good deed for the day by 2 p.m. — but not Kathryn Collins.
The taskmaster behind the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive in support of food banks here in Oceanside was still at it even after the Salvation Army building in French Creek had been locked up for the day.
Collins said she had two more bags she wanted to add to bring the total weight of food collected for the day.
Rallying the troops for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was a labour of love for Collins, who said the local community really came through.
“It was just the most spectacular day because we got over 1,600 pounds,” she said. “In each area the average was 25 to 30 per cent pickup of donations.”
She said they made it easy for people to donate by leaving bags and flyers at the homes earlier in the week.
They were delivered by eight teams of about two to four community members, about half from the Mormon congregation and the rest made up of other church and community groups, as well as individual citizens. The same teams went back over their route on Saturday, Sept. 17 picking up the donations.
“People come through during tough times,” she said. “When people are at their worst they are at their best,” she said.
Collins said local food banks need help and she urged people to call 1-855-742-2833 for more information.
