On the final distribution day of the season June 19 for the Terrace Churches Food Bank, a boy who had just celebrated his 12th birthday came in with his friends, loaded down with donations.
“He asked people who came to the party to bring food instead of gifts. It was impressive to see someone, especially that age, to tell his friends to give him food donations instead of gifts,” said director of the food bank John Wiebenga.
Last week’s four-day distribution, which took place June 16-19, was the last of the season for the food bank which will resume operations again this fall.
The food bank holds four-day distributions once a month, operating from the downstairs of the Dairy Queen building on Park Ave.
Wiebenga said the number of clients who were served this past season is down by 20 per cent.
This last distribution saw 500 bags of food distributed, down from the 750 to 800 bags of a few years ago.
It’s a sign that more people are employed or that people have moved away because the housing crunch means lower income people can’t afford to live in the area, said Wiebenga.
The food bank, which is supported by area churches who supply volunteers and by donations of either money or money from individuals, community groups and businesses, doesn’t operate in the summer when money available for food increases as hydro and heating bills decline.
“This year we have really been blessed. We have enough money for [start up in] the fall. It’s probably been one of our better years,” said Wiebenga.
