The Elkford Food Bank is ready to face the holiday season thanks in part to help from a group of local students.
According to Karen Lewis from the Elkford Food Bank, a career class from Elkford Secondary School has been volunteering their time with the food bank as part of a lesson on non-profits and charities.
The students have been awesome helpers, said Lewis. “Any help that I’ve asked for, their teacher, Sam Scheller, has been awesome with setting up things and getting students involved.”
Lewis said the partnership began because her granddaughter is in Scheller’s class and has helped out at the food bank plenty of times before. Lewis noted that her granddaughter “said that kids are excited about it because it’s something totally different for them.”
The students made posters to put up around town, letting people know how to submit their names for a food hamper. They also helped Lewis go over food lists and revise what is included in food hampers.
“They’re able to give some suggestions with a fresh set of eyes,” she explained. “And on the day we’re doing the food hampers they’ll be helping with pushing carts around, loading the hampers, and getting those all prepared for me.”
Lewis thinks that partnerships like this one are incredibly important. She said it helps kids to realize that not everybody gets everything they want and that there are some people who really struggle during the holidays.
“It’s good for them to know that there are others out there and they can do something to help.”
It’s not just students who are feeling generous this time of year. Lewis said that the response from businesses, individuals and social groups has been truly great. In fact, she said she didn’t have a full total on money raised yet because so many people are still sending in money and donations to the food bank.
The need for the food bank in Elkford is mostly holding steady but Lewis did note that there are couple more users this year as compared to last year. She added that because of some layoffs up at the mines, the food bank is seeing a few more people.
“Nothing really dramatic at this point but it definitely affects the need that we see.”
Overall though, Lewis is impressed with the giving spirit of the residents of Elkford. Seeing the contributions from the community is an amazing thing, she said.
“It’s an amazing thing and it makes you feel better – so much better about people when you see how most people are so compassionate and giving.”
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