No matter how many hours of planning an Okotoks woman did, once again she found herself preparing a last-minute turkey.
And Sheila Hughes, the retired executive director of the Okotoks Food Bank, was delighted to do so.
“Every year I have been here on Christmas Eve to do one hamper because someone was in need – we will never say no,” Hughes said. “Usually, I have my daughter Katie come down and help me with that Christmas hamper. It’s a real eyeopener for her.”
The food bank distributed 243 Christmas hampers this year, one more than in 2017.
Hughes is stepping down as executive director after 3 ½ years to spend more time with her family – to join her husband in retirement.
“He’s been very patient in waiting for me,” Hughes said. “And we just had our first grandchild – we’ll be going to see her as much as we can.”
She became involved with the food bank approximately six years ago and became executive director in 2015. Hughes was a paralegal prior to
coming to the food bank. She called being at the food bank her second-most rewarding work experience – just behind being a mother.
“This place just works its way into your heart,” Hughes said of the food bank. “How everybody is so giving. They don’t just come twice a year some of them (volunteers) come week in, week out and have been doing so for years.
“Once you see what a great cause it is – helping someone with such a basic need – it is very gratifying, very rewarding.”
Hughes estimates the food bank received more than 220,000 pounds of donated food from the community in 2018.
“I am always amazed but never surprised at the support we get,” Hughes said.
She and the food bank provide more than food to their clients – compassion.
“Being able to give people a hug when they are going through one of the most difficult times they have ever had,” Hughes said. “Helping single moms for who it is so hard for them to come through the door. They are used to being the ones who are strong helping others and here they are asking for help.
“Being able to reassure them that they are strong.
“We had one lady come in and by the time she got here her hands were soaked in sweat because she was under so much stress having to come through our doors.
“To be able to tell her it is going to be okay and that we would be there to help her.”
It did turn out okay, the mother is no longer a client of the food bank
Although Hughes is retiring, she would have preferred if she had lost her job because of a lack of business.
“It would be wonderful if there was no need for us,” Hughes said. “We would all love to be out of a job here.”
Unfortunately, she doesn’t expect that to happen.
“I started this job in June of 2015 and it was supposed to be a 20 hour a week part-time job,” Hughes said. “It quickly became a full-time job. By September I saw the number of people coming through the doors increase dramatically.”
She said from the end of 2014 to the end of 2017 there was a 117 per cent increase in need.
“2019 might be a little bit difficult for people,” Hughes said.
She said the food bank, the generosity of the Foothills community and volunteers will continue to help others through tough times.
“It’s just got progressively busier every year,” Hughes said. “It’s so wonderful to see so much of the community come together and help us out and look after the people we take care of. It’s wonderful working with the volunteers – lots of laughs. It’s lot of long hours but we work together to make it fun.”
