Powell River Action Centre Food Bank has a new donation box at Save-On-Foods.
The existing food bank table near the entrance of the store has been perpetually empty, so Knights of Columbus has constructed a box where people can drop their donations in the top, and the box will be locked so donations get to the food bank.
Food bank manager Savanna Dee said she had been looking for months to find someone to build something in which food donations can be securely stored. The food bank already has a connection with Knights of Columbus, which donated 48 new coats to the food bank this winter.
“I didn’t realize there was such a need for that,” said Dee. “It was incredible how many people needed winter coats.
“Knights of Columbus stepped up again for us and bought, paid for and built the donation box to be placed in Save-On-Foods. They [Knights of Columbus] are always helping in the community so we love them. They are a very kind, caring, community-oriented organization and we are very pleased they have stepped up in our time of need to help us with this donation box.”
Knights of Columbus district deputy Isador Hawryluk, who built the box, said the organization is community minded.
“We sponsor projects like this and we wanted to contribute by supplying the box,” said Hawryluk. “We heard through our grand knight Dave Formosa that there was a need for it and we talked about it and said this is what we do.
“There’s a need for it in the community. The needy need the food.”
Dee said it is important that food donated to the food bank gets distributed to those who need it. The need has never been greater. Dee said there were 198 new people who accessed the food bank in 2023, and overall, there were 3,132 visits, which is up from 2,366 in 2022.
“We need everything we can get our hands on to feed our community,” added Dee.
She said the food bank is now going through an accreditation process with Food Banks Canada, which was founded in 1987 and represents more than 500 food banks across the country. She said food banks that want to be affiliated with Food Banks Canada have to be accredited by March 2025.
“We’re excited about the standards of excellence and the accreditation because that will let donors know we are audited and that the funds they donate are being spent in a proper way, which they always have been with us here under the watchful eye of our accountants,” said Dee. “We’ll have our accreditation diploma up on that wall and on our van, and so larger companies will hopefully help us out and know that their money is being spent properly.”
In addition to donations of food, the food bank is also pleased to receive money. Dee said she buys in bulk and is able to purchase necessary food items at reduced rates over what most consumers can purchase them for.
Those wishing to help with cash donations can go to powellriverfoodbank.com under donations and pay by PayPal, or they can write cheques or bring cash to 6816B Alberni Street. The postal code is V8A 2B4.
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