Submitted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 

Spring Food Drive a Big Help for Red Deer Food Bank

Red Deer families volunteer their time in massive South Red Deer food drive taking place this week.

The cupboards are getting very bare at the Red Deer Foodbank. Alberta’s economic downturn has been challenging for Central Alberta families and many have turned to the Red Deer Food Bank for help. “This past year, the Red Deer Food Bank helped more than 20,000 people,” says Alice Kolisnyk, Deputy Director of the Red Deer Food Bank. “The food is going out as fast as it’s coming in. We always see an increase in donations at Christmas, but those donations are depleted now.”

A spring food drive organized by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Red Deer has become an important way for the Red Deer Food Bank to stock its shelves. Bags will be delivered to the doorsteps of homes on the south side of the city this week and they will be picked up on Saturday April 27 between 10 am and 12 noon and delivered to the Red Deer Food Bank.

“The spring food drive is absolutely crucial for us,” Kolinsky says. “So many families need help to make ends meet – 35 to 40 percent of our clients are children.”

All south-area residents are reminded to please support the food bank by leaving a food donation on their doorstep this Saturday. Anyone whodoes not get a yellow bag in their mailbox next week is more than welcome to bring donations to the Bower chapel (3002 47th Ave) between 10 am and noon on Saturday, April 27.

“We do a fall food drive in the north half of the city and a spring food drive in the south half of the city every year,” says Allison Strate, Red Deer Stake Food Drive Coordinator. “Red Deer citizens have been very generous and together the two food drives typically bring in between 18,000 -20,000 kg of food.” The Red Deer Food Bank is hoping that Red Deer residents will support this food drive, so they can continue to do the important work of assisting Central Alberta families.