Hundreds helped with food hampers

Food bank handing out 2,800 hampers this week in Kelowna, West Kelowna

Receiving food from the local food bank is an incredible gift for many people in the Central Okanagan, especially at this time of year, says one local woman.

“If I didn’t come to the food bank, it wouldn’t be much of a Christmas, because I’m on disability and I can’t afford stuff,” said Holly, a Kelowna resident who was picking up her Christmas food hamper from the Central Okanagan Community Food Bank Monday morning.

The food bank is handing out 2,000 food hampers at the Kelowna location this week, along with 800 hampers at the Westside location.

“We’ve got 19 stations, and volunteers are manning each station, making sure our clients get everything that they’ll need for a hearty Christmas dinner,” said Tamie Williams, communications officer and volunteer co-ordinator for the food bank.

Visitors to the food bank go around with a shopping cart as volunteers load them up with fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products, canned goods and more.

“The need is consistent in our community for food,” said Williams. “We’re really just trying to provide nutritious meals for families year-round, but of course (at) Christmas as well.”

Kendra Dunn has been bringing her children to volunteer at the food bank for the past three years.

“They need to come down and see that there are other people that are less fortunate than them,” she said. “It’s really meaningful to help, and they feel great.”

Volunteering at the food bank is Dunn’s way of giving back to the community.

“People are in need. They’re coming in and they really need the food,” she said. “It’s really great to be able to . . . give back to people who are in need.”

This year marks the first Christmas hamper distribution from the food bank’s new Kelowna location on Enterprise Way.

“We deeply thank all those who have donated funds, food or time,” said Lenetta Parry, executive director of the food bank.

The Daily Courier’s Be an Angel campaign supports the Central Okanagan Community Food Bank’s Christmas campaign.

ANDREA PEACOCK/The Daily Courier Central Okanagan Community Food Bank volunteers Sadie Tubello, left, Kendra Dunn, centre, and Sophia Dunn hand out food to people at the food bank in Kelowna Monday morning.