As the holiday season rolls in, the Municipality of Chester is asking residents to consider donating the gift of food..
The municipality has started collecting donations for its annual ‘Totally Awesome and Super Fantastic Holiday Food Drive’ as of Monday in support of Lighthouse Food Bank and Hubbards and Area Food Bank.
The drive takes in non-perishable foods and monetary donations which go towards holiday preparations for each food bank.
Jennifer Webber, communications officer, said the food drive started five years ago as a competition between municipalities.
“But recognizing there is a need for food bank donations, especially this time of year, they decided to carry on competition or no competition, and help support a couple of the food banks in our area,” she said.
Webber said while work is being done around food security issues, people are still in need of assistance.
“We still need some immediate relief for some people,” she said.
“Council recognizes that need, and this is just something the municipality does every year to kind of help out.”
That help comes at the perfect time for food banks like Lighthouse.
Wendy Sheppard, chairwoman of the board for Lighthouse, said food donations are especially needed as the holiday season rolls in.
“The weather is starting to get cooler, so people are ending up paying more for fuel than they would have in the summer,” she said.
“Funds are tight, so when we can offer a Christmas meal for a family, it really does impact them in a positive way.”
Each year, Lighthouse prepares Christmas baskets for families in need.
Last year they gave out 92 baskets.
That number said Sheppard, seems to increase each year.
“I think that food prices are a big part of it,” she said.
“Food prices continue to increase, so families are having a more difficult time to buy their groceries. I also think a lack of employment and affordable housing affects it too.”
Lighthouse has also begun to stock toiletries, such as toilet paper, shampoo, soap and feminine hygiene products for those who can’t afford them.
Sheppard says donations and community drives such as this one are vital to their operation.
The Municipality will be collecting donations until December 5th, and drop-off can be made at the municipal office during regular hours.
Regular donations to Lighthouse can also be made at one of their five drop-off points located at Chester Foodland, Chester Independant Grocer, Jeff’s Old Volks Home, Chester Municipal Office, and Chester Pharmasave.
Reported by: Cody McEachern
Twitter: @CodyInHiFi
E-mail: mceachern.cody@radioabl.ca
