A group of residents inspired by volunteer groups on Facebook is hosting a community food drive this weekend to support those in need.
Rebecca Lee is hoping to fill a cube van provided by Simply Flooring with essential items to restock the Okotoks Food Bank shelves. The food drive is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 22 in the Okotoks Recreation Centre parking lot.
The idea is for people to drive into the parking lot, open their trunks to have their donations unloaded, then proceed to Milligan Drive through a different exit.
“I’m hoping to limit in-person interaction with everybody as much as possible, as much as it sucks, because I think it’s great that people are coming out at all,” said Lee. “But I really want to ensure that everybody’s health and safety is top here, too, while filling the shelves for our local food bank.”
The idea came to her when the first signs of COVID-19 closures and government recommendations and mandates began surfacing during the week of March 9.
She said her family has a single income, and if her husband was forced to stop working they wouldn’t have any paycheques coming in. It made her think of other people who are already struggling, and now face the prospect of empty shelves in the grocery store if they try to buy lower-priced items for their families with little to no income.
“I kind of sat on it for a few days, and I posted in the Stone Soup group and I got a really good response, so I thought, ‘You know what, we’re going to push it,’” said Lee. “I’m going to push it through really fast so hopefully we can still get people out before people can no longer leave their house.
“Things are changing every minute, and we’re not sure when we’ll be in quarantine too, where that’s it – everything’s shut down, we’re inside. So I’m hoping nothing will change between here and Sunday.”
Lee said the community food drive is one way of making sure Okotokians are looking out for one another.
It’s been heartwarming to see people reaching out and ready to help their neighbours, she said.
“I’m just one piece of the puzzle and it makes my heart happy that people are giving positive feedback and hopefully showing up and caring for others in this time,” said Lee.
Okotoks Food Bank executive director Pamela McLean said she’s grateful for the efforts of the community.
At this time, she said the staples are highly encouraged because with basic staples in their kitchen families will be able to sustain themselves during a long difficult period.
Items like canned meats and tuna, canned meals like Beefaroni or soup, peanut butter, jam, juice, cereal, rice, sugar, flour, pasta and sauce are best bets, she said.
In addition, the food bank could use baby items like formula, diapers and wipes, she said.
“That will cover us,” said McLean. “Staples like these will get people through.
“We’re grateful we can stay open.”
Krista Conrad, OkotoksToday.ca
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