Helping those in need
Evangeline residents urged to contribute to annual food drive, challenged to increase contributions to 1,000 pounds
Residents of the Evangeline and surrounding areas will have the opportunity, from Oct. 10-19, to help their less fortunate neighbours by contributing non-perishable foods to a community food drive for the Summerside Salvation Army Food Bank and the Tyne Valley Caring Cupboard.
This year, organizers of the drive are strongly encouraging people to increase the volume of food donations to the cause.
A few years ago, the community gave 1,500 pounds of food to the. Last year, the volume dropped to less than half of that amount.
The community is therefore being challenged to contribute 1,000 pounds to this year’s drive, organized once again on the occasion of Co-op and Small Business Week.
According to the managers of the foods banks, the need for food contributions is being felt more and more each year, especially as the fall and winter months approach.
Hard economic and social condition means that a growing number of Islanders simply don’t make enough money to meet their family’s basic needs with some being forced to choose between heating their home or eating.
They therefore have no other choice but to turn to social assistance agencies.
To help turn this situation around, several partners from the co-operative sector in the Evangeline area have jointly decided to organize this drive again this year.
People from the community are invited to drop off nonperishable foods to Wellington Co-op or to Evangeline-Central Credit Union during their hours of operation. Each person who gives a food donation will get a ballot towards a draw for a $100 gift card from the Wellington Co-op.
A food collection contest is also being organized at Evangeline School. The class gathering the greatest volume of food will win a $100 prize. Families with school-aged children can therefore make their contributions through the school.
A benefit family Mega-Bingo is also being organized for the food bank Oct. 15, at 2 p.m. at the Evangeline School cafeteria in Abram-Village. At this event, only monetary donations will be accepted.