Students at Central Community Church are planning their second annual food-raising event for the local Salvation Army Community Food Bank. The hope of the event is to fill of a 5 Ton truck full of food, to help bring awareness to the issue of hunger in the own community.
The Food Bank has been an active participant in Chilliwack for over 30 years, and its resources assist over 3,800 residents, many being under, or unemployed.
A study performed by Food Banks Canada found that over 833,000 people across Canada accept the help of food banks on a monthly basis; over a third are children.
Food banks are having a difficult time keeping up with the needs of people who are require access to the food bank, the study found. Due to the shortage of food and donations, 38 per cent of the food banks in Canada have been forced to reduce the amount of food being given out to the people. As well, 53 per cent of food banks are required to buy more food than usual because in-kind donations do not meet the need.
This need for food donations is continual and vital to the well-being of many individuals and families, say Stuff A Truck organizers.
“We are asking our community for help. Last year, in our inaugural event, the people of Chilliwack stepped up and were able to supply the food bank with over 15,000 food items,” they say.
This year, the goal is to raise 25,000 items.
Central Community Church will hold its second annual “Stuff A Truck” fundraiser on May 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The community can show its by dropping off non-perishable food items at the truck (provided by Coastal Mountain Fuels), which will be in front of the Save-On-Foods located at 46020 Yale Rd. West, Chilliwack.
Students of Central will be onsite to assist with food sorting, directing people to the truck, and encouraging people to donate to this cause. Hot dogs and pop, which have been provided by Save-On-Foods, will be handed out to those who donate food.
For more information about how you can donate food go to www.central365.org or contact Pastor Jonathan Kornelsen at (604) 792-8037 or office@central365.org