The Qualicum Beach congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is joining a British Columbia-wide food drive to help those in need.
The B.C. Thanksgiving Food Drive will involve about 3,000 volunteers around the province with the actual collection being held on Saturday, Sept. 17. Donation bags will be dropped off to as many homes as possible up to a week earlier.
“The effort is non-denominational and several other churches, corporate sponsors and volunteers from the general public will be joining in the big food drive, which is designed to become an annual event,” said president Tom Roulstone. “In Qualicum (Beach) we are being assisted by Qualicum Foods and Thrifty Foods.”
The BC Thanksgiving Food Drive is being organized in conjunction with Food Banks British Columbia and conforms to the association’s code of ethics. No cash donations will be solicited door-to-door.
“This is an amazing reaching out among caring people all over our province and we are excited to have others join us so willingly,” Roulstone said.
“We have seen through the summer just how desperately the food banks need help, so the aim is to bolster their shelves in time to help people for Thanksgiving.”
In Qualicum Beach, the food drive proceeds will be delivered to the French Creek Food Bank.
As well as Qualicum Beach, the food drive on Vancouver Island will involve Latter-day Saint congregations in Duncan, Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Courtenay, Campbell River, Port McNeill and Powell River.
The Victoria congregations are also holding a similar food drive in the capital city region.
Individual or community group volunteers are welcome and duties range from collecting to sorting food stuffs.
Anyone who wants to help is asked to call organizer Kathryn Collins at 250-752-8746.
For further information on the BC-wide food drive visit the BCTFD website at www.bctfooddrive.org.
— Contributed by BCTFD
