Over 4,082 kilograms of food was collected from the Penticton region and delivered to local food banks during the annual B.C. Thanksgiving Food Drive held on the weekend.

Organizers said households were exceptionally generous this year, with many homes giving multiple bags and cases of high quality, nutrient rich foods.

Altogether, local citizens united to give almost five tons of food to local food banks. Penticton residents donated well over 3,175 kg. Summerland donated 657 kg to their food bank and Okanagan Falls donated well over 181 kg to the Okanagan Falls Helping Hand.

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Even more noteworthy than the amount of food collected was the number of food bank recipients who volunteered to help in this year’s drive. Far more volunteered this year than previously.

“We just asked, and they came forward with enthusiasm,” said Salvation Army Food Bank manager John Rankin. “Some needy people even pitched in spur-of-the-moment during the collections on Saturday.”

Members of the Thanksgiving Food Drive steering committee expressed their gratitude and admiration for the many volunteers from the community who make this drive a success each year.

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“The level of support that we have received from the community has been wonderful; local businesses, a large number of old folks homes and hundreds of volunteers have combined to make this effort possible, but a special thanks goes out to the IGA, for their exemplary support,” said food drive co-chairs Dan and Traudi Kane.

Over 125 volunteers delivered 15,000 flyer-bags to small routes in urban Penticton and Summerland during the week of Sept 10 to 14. On Saturday, Sept. 15, they retraced their routes and picked up the shopping bags stuffed with food. In Summerland, the donations were delivered to the Summerland Food Bank on Henry Street.

The B.C. Thanksgiving Food Drive is an annual event that takes place throughout the province, and a similar event is held in Alberta. The drives are sponsored by a large number of churches, clubs, businesses, charitable organizations and thousands of private citizens from all walks of life. People who are interested in promoting this event in our area next year are encouraged to call Dan and Traudi Kane at 250-328-8151, or Leona David at 250-486-2362.

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