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JUST A FEW ELVES: Last year’s Stuff the Trailer Challenge donated 109 corporate pallets, with 1,000 pounds of food each, to the Powell River Action Society Food Bank. Here, representing event sponsor Coast FM is Bobby Fields, with Food Bank workers Donna Rekve and Melissa Tookey. City Transfer and FreshCo are also major sponsors of Stuff the Trailer – one of the region’s many holiday fundraisers for the Food Bank.
Inflationary pinch hurts the food bank, too BY PIETA WOOLLEY
If you’ve been in a grocery store lately, you probably don’t need to read the rest of this story.
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14 November 2023 • qathetliving.ca
Food, as you know, is shockingly expensive right now – especialy eggs, fruit, vegetables and meat. The nutritious stuff. At the Powell River Action Society Food Bank, off Alberni Street, coordinator Savanna Dee says the number of locals needing help is up again this year, of course. So far in 2023, 739 clients used the food bank – many of them multiple times, many of them new users, and 220 of them children ages 6 to 1l. “They can’t afford basic groceries,” said Savanna. “They come here before they go shopping to get the extras to make meal, to get things they’re not buying. They’re shopping at Dollarama for canned goods.” “We’ve been absolutely insanely busy since the price of everything went up. I thought prices went up because of COVID. But whoa. They’re even higher now.” Food costs are also hitting the Food Bank. Over last year, Savanna said, costs are up over $50,000. “We’re just hanging on month to month.” Savanna cobbles together her cupboards from
multiple sources, including local farmers, government programs, pet food from the SPCA, organizations that donate specific items such as feminine hygiene products and soap, and more. Over the holidays, she depends on the many fundraisers to bring in a bulk of food and cash donatons, that she can maximize through bulk buying. Some of those events include Stuff the Trailer, the Brooks Jingle Jog, the Verecan Toy Drive, the Rec Complex skate/swim event, and more. To make ends meet, she needs an infusion of $100,000 in the next couple of months. “It all adds up,” Savanna said. “I just shake my head and smile and keep feeding people. It’s a dance every day to make sure people get what they need to get through.” If you would like to donate directly to the Food Bank, e-transfer pracfoodbank@gmail.com, use Paypal at powellriverfoodbank.com. You can also send a cheque to 6816B Alberni Street, V8A 2B4, or come by when the doors are open, Tues-Thurs, 10-2. || pieta@prliving.ca
