Although we鈥檙e in the midst of one of the hottest summers in recent memory, the Squamish Food Bank wants people thinking about the spirit of Christmas this weekend. That鈥檚 because Christmas is usually the time when people donate the most to the food bank. And summer, unfortunately, is when stocks start to dwindle, according to Christina Rupp, coordinator at the food bank.
鈥淧eople go away on holidays, and the nice weather has people busy doing other things,鈥� she explained.
鈥淪ummer is when donations to food banks decline.鈥�
However, the nice weather doesn鈥檛 stop people from still needing the food bank鈥檚 services, so on Friday and Saturday, food bank staff will be trying to get local shoppers into the spirit of giving.
鈥淭his weekend, volunteers from the food bank will be in front of Nesters, Save-On-Foods and Extra Foods,鈥� said Rupp. 鈥淲e will be handing out a grocery wish list to people, hoping they will buy a few extra items to donate to the food bank.鈥�
Rupp said they are always in need of items like canned tuna, canned fruit and vegetables, pasta and pasta sauce, peanut butter, diapers and baby food, as well as cash donations. The hope is that people will shop for the food bank since they are already in the store.
鈥淎lso, the local Lion鈥檚 Club is hosting a barbecue for us at Extra Foods,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd we will also be selling raffle tickets for four adventure experience prizes, including rafting tours and a Sea to Sky Gondola family day pass.鈥�
Shoppers who donate food items will also be given a discount voucher toward a Sea to Sky Gondola ticket, according to Rupp.
鈥淲e are also looking for volunteers,鈥� she said.
Christmas in July runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday at Saturday at the three Squamish supermarkets.
For more info go to squamishfoodbank.com, or to volunteer, call 604-815-4054.
