The Abbotsford Food Bank is setting a 15-year record – a very unfortunate and disconcerting one. Stocks of food at the organization have never been so low in the past decade and a half as they are now.
Among many others, the food bank is a vital service in this community, currently serving about 3,000 people each month.
It also operates as the Abbotsford Christmas Bureau at this time of year, providing gifts and food hampers for families in need. That aspect of the service got a significant boost last week with the Toys for Tots event.
Now the community needs to fill the organization’s shelves with food.
The Mennonite Central Committee just stepped up to the task, calling on its members to help out, and planning food drives at its new Gladys Avenue centre grand opening on Saturday and throughout the month.
It would be superb to see other community organizations similarly muster their resources to answer the food bank need.
Of course, individual citizens are also vital in assisting this service.
Remember that the folks who access the food bank include many families with children, which are experiencing job loss, unexpected major expenses, or just a tough time in making ends meet in challenging economic times.
Food items currently needed are: pasta, pasta sauce, vegetables, canned meat, rice, canned fruit, beans, chunky soup, small canned soup, Kraft Dinner and peanut butter.
Cash donations are also being accepted, with this year’s fundraising goal set at $850,000 – the cost of keeping the food bank going year round.
In fact, because the food bank can purchase supplies at a discount, cash contributions have a two-to-one benefit.
Abbotsford is one of the most generous communities in the nation. We believe the food bank is about to see another demonstration of that.
