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Oilfields Food Bank bringing new meaning to drive-thru

The Oilfields Food Bank is trying something new to bring in donations prior to Christmas. A drive-thru will be held in the hopes of filling their shelves with food destined for area families in need around the holidays.
WW-Oilfields Food Bank BWC 2182 web
Karen Milne stands amongst the Oilfields Food Bank Association's aisles of food at the United Church in the Valley on Oct. 30.

The Oilfields Food Bank is trying something new to bring in donations prior to Christmas.

A drive-thru will be held in the hopes of filling their shelves with food destined for area families in need around the holidays.

The main food donation drive for the Oilfields Food Bank, a community door-to-door food drive done by the firefighters, was cancelled for a second time this year.

Oilfields Food Bank director Karen Milne said they have been able to get by with support from new grant funding and support from the Okotoks food bank, which is a hub distribution point for other nearby food banks. However, she said this year they wanted to try a replacement food drive to make up for the cancelled firefighter food drive.

“We get so many items from the door-to-door collection that we don’t buy,” Milne said. “Very random things that folks enjoy a lot and they really top up our storage room shelves.”

Items like condiments, canned soup, paper towels, canned meat, spices, baking mixes, pickles, cat food and cleaning supplies are on the food bank’s wish list. She said the food drive also brings in specialty foods that tend to be a bit more expensive like hot sauces, pickled jalapeños and Nutella that are a treat for people receiving a Christmas hamper.

Food bank volunteers will be collecting donations Nov. 25 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the United Church. Cars will enter from Royal Avenue, drop off their donation and exit from the alley.

There will also be a cash donation box for people to support the purchase of non-perishable food items, gift cards and other items provided through the food bank.

It is expected that 100 Christmas hampers will be distributed this year. So far around 45 to 50 requests have come in, said Milne.

A hamper, which will feed one to two people contains about $300 worth of food however, some of the requests are for large families and cost much more.

E-transfers can be made to the Oilfields food bank using the email [email protected] or donations can be made online at CanadaHelps.org

“They can choose to donate a grocery card,” Milne said. “They can donate to cover a turkey or ham or they can just choose to donate a cash amount to support the Christmas program.”

In order, to receive a hamper, people can pre-register using the online form on the Oilfield Food Banks website at oilfieldsfoodbank.com and clicking on ‘Need a Hamper’ or phone 403-612-1291. 

A drive-thru will also be used on Dec. 17 to distribute the hampers.

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