Seniors in Chilliwack got some fresh produce to eat this week thanks to a generous donation by a food delivery company and another organization that made it happen.
Earlier this week, a Sysco truck full of produce was stuck in Chilliwack for days due to flooded roads.
They had already donated food to the new Chilliwack Community Food Hub located at the Salvation Army, but there was still lots of produce left over. That’s when Sarah Emmerton of Sysco connected with Chilliwack’s Margaret Reid of United Way to get the food to those in need.
They called several seniors’ residences in Chilliwack and five took them up on the offer, including Crystal Ridge Manor.
“She said ‘I heard that you guys were struggling too,’” said Margaret Kostrzewa, general manager of Crystal Ridge after speaking with Emmerton.
Kostrzewa and her husband had been running around Chilliwack to every grocery store looking for milk, bread and produce to feed the 23 seniors at Crystal Ridge. They were able to find four jugs of milk, but not much else.
Kostrzewa said she was “thrilled” by Sysco’s gesture.
“I’m just so grateful because we have no fresh fruit,” she said on Thursday (Nov. 18) before picking up the food. “I’m so blessed that people think of our seniors. It’s definitely an act of kindness.”
When she went to pick up the produce, there were representatives from Lynnwood and Norman Manor there as well.
Kostrzewa drove away with a van full of oranges, cantaloupe, blueberries, lettuce, celery, carrots, herbs and garlic for the seniors. She also got milk and eggs.
“This entire undertaking was a wonderful whirlwind and I am so happy we could facilitate this fantastic donation through Sysco,” Reid said on Friday. “They are donating another truck full in Abbotsford that was caught in the flood waters at Whatcom as well.”
The produce was also being delivered to several Indigenous communities as well, Reid added.
“This just made my day to be able to go over there and get stuff we can’t get. It’s a very heartwarming thing for them to do,” Kostrzewa said Thursday afternoon. “I can actually go home and sleep tonight.”
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