INNISFAIL - Tis the season to help load the shelves at the Innisfail and District Food Bank with a number of upcoming events.
When the CP Holiday Train pulls into town on Dec. 7, food and money will be collected for the food bank.
On Dec. 16, the annual Charity Check Stop will be underway in town.
Brenda Hand, co-ordinator at the food bank, said several Innisfail businesses have also banded together to help stock the shelves this year as well.
“We have wonderful volunteers and a good community,” Hand said, noting the shelves are currently well stocked thanks to recent food drives.
But that doesn't mean they don't need the community to keep up its efforts. If you can't make the holiday train or the Check Stop events, you can stop by the food bank on Tuesdays between 1 and 3 p.m. to make a donation in person.
“At this point we have a pretty good balance of things,” Hand said. They are always accepting non-perishable food donations, and monetary donations help round out any gaps needed, she said.
While food bank usage is actually down in the last four months -- Hand said it's down about 18 per cent -- more families can end up needing a hand this time of year.
“I think we have more families come because they have other things that come out of the budget,” she said.
While food bank usage is down, there were 113 families, which included 224 children, who used the food bank from July through October. Another 200 adults used their services as well.
“It's significant. Children need to eat to be able to learn,” Hand said.
The food bank will be open Dec. 27 instead of Dec. 26 because of Boxing Day.
