SURREY — Eight Overwaitea Food Group stores in Surrey and White Rock stepped up to help the Surrey Food Bank to replace what it lost in the recent windstorm, raising nearly 30,000 pounds of food over the September long weekend.
Half of the 30,000 pounds of food came from donations during the drive and the company matched what was donated.
Among the donations were 229 cases of soup, 182 cases of tuna, 120 cases of yogurt, 27 cases or oranges, 80 cases of nectarines and 40 cases of salad kits.
In addition to non-perishables, Save-On-Foods also donated a large quantity of eggs and milk.
“Overwaitea Food Group has been a valued partner of the Surrey Food Bank for many years and we’re so incredibly overwhelmed at the amount of product that was brought to us,” said Surrey Food Bank director Marilyn Herrmann. “People’s lives have been made better thanks to the team’s efforts.”
During the power outage, the food bank helped many people who weren’t considered low-income.
“Anyone who came received food,” Hermann told the Now last week. “One family, they’d just gone and bought groceries Friday for the next two weeks and they lost everything. She asked me to please help her, and of course we did.
“It really has made me realize what an essential service we are in the community.”
The in-store drive also raised $1,000 through the BC Food Banks Sharing program that allows customers to show their support of food banks by purchasing a $2 coupon that the local food bank can use to purchase fresh goods.
