With a lack of big food drives in the summer the Parksville Thrifty Foods stepped up to raise funds for the Salvation Army Food Bank.
Food bank coordinator Lisa Clason said that after an article in The NEWS in June they experienced a spike in cash donations.
She said she called Thrifty manager Bill Rutledge, "about what kind of deal I could get to buy food. He gave me a fantastic deal and he started asking about the current situation."
She told him they were particularly hurting from the cancellation of Canada Post's summer food drive so Rutledge came up with the idea of hosting regular fundraiser barbecues.
Every Saturday through August the store invites everyone down for a delicious fresh grilled snack sponsored by a different group each week. Thirfty's themselves did the first one, followed by Hertel Meats, Silver Meadows Farm in Errington this weekend and Grimm's Meat next.
The barbecue runs from about 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rutledge said and they also have a food donation bin near the tills and take part in the provincial food share program where people can buy $5, $10 or $20 coupons that go directly to the local food bank.
Clason said it now looks like they will make it over the summer lull, but they can still use all the help they can get and are specifically looking for donations of high protein foods like meals in a can as well as back-to-school supplies like juice boxes. For more information or to help or donate call 250-248-8794 or stop by 886 Wembley Road.