Food bank donations dropping
Food bank officials are noticing two new trends this fall: More families with working parents are showing up for help, and donations are drastically down.
“Rent, gas, grocery prices, they are all going up and salaries are not going up,” said Janiene Boice, director of development for the Mustard Seed Street Church food bank. “It’s just getting tighter and tighter for people, and I think that is affecting donations.”
Boice said the food bank has come to expect a drop in donations every fall. But so far, cash donations are down by one-third over last year, and food donations are down by half.
So the Mustard Seed Street Church is grateful to the Rotary Clubs of Greater Victoria for organizing a Food Rescue Chef Challenge fundraiser, Saturday, Sept. 29. The Victoria Foundation has also stepped in, offering to match all donations.
Professional chefs from the Oak Bay Marina and Camosun College Culinary Arts with go head-to-head in a chef challenge to create two appetizers and dessert, using a “rescued food” item.
Guests will judge and be invited to bid on live and silent auctions, enjoy locally produced beverages and wine, while participating in the creation of an amazing community project that is the Food Rescue Kitchen, used to create items such as soups and sauces for food-bank clients.
Tickets are $50. Doors open at the Food Security Distribution Centre, 808b Viewfield Rd. at 1:30 p.m. with chef challenge and tastings starting at 2 p.m. The event wraps up at 4:30 p.m. For more information and ticket sales, go online to Eventbrite.com (Food Rescue Chef Challenge).