INNISFAIL - Innisfail and area residents once again gave from their hearts this Christmas.
Although cash donations to the Innisfail and District Food Bank were slightly down this year compared to 2015, the agency received more food than the year before.
And the community was equally generous with donations to the Innisfail Christmas Bureau, with boxes of toys, clothing and cash pouring in to help the needy.
“We handed hampers out every Thursday (from Dec. 1 to 15),” said Karina Lucas, co-chair of the Innisfail and District Christmas Bureau. “We had a lot of donations this year, especially cash donations. Johns Manville was a huge contributor to that.
“We had a lot more hampers than usual,” she added.
The 21st Annual Charity Check Stop that took place Dec. 17 also helped raise needed donations for Innisfail and area families.
A total of $12,209.40 in cash and cheques was raised along with more than four truckloads of toys and clothes. In addition, 1,100 pounds of food was also donated by Innisfail and area citizens during the annual event.
Carole Sim, coordinator of the Innisfail and District Food Bank, said just before Christmas her agency had received $39,000 in cash compared to $43,000 in 2015. As for food donations, the food bank received 12,704 pounds. in 2016, compared to 12,625 in 2015. She said last week there were still three food drives to go in 2016.
“I think we did very, very well from a generous community. They gave extremely generously,” said Sim, whose agency reported in early December that demand for hampers had skyrocketed 49 per cent in the final quarter of the year, compared to the same period in 2015. She said this year's generosity will benefit many in the community for many months to come.
“That (donations) will feed a lot of people in the coming year. We also have groups already organizing spring food drives,” said Sim. “We should be very grateful for the community we have, young and old. The kids chip in as well.”
Not to be forgotten, emphasized Sim, was the committed and devoted help from the agency's 69 volunteers.
“We could not have had such success this year without the support from our dedicated volunteers,” said Sim.
Any citizen wanting to access the food bank's hamper service, or wanting to make a donation or volunteer, can call Sim at 403-227-3960.
Carole Sim, coordinator of the Innisfail and District Food Bank
"We should be very grateful for the community we have, young and old. The kids chip in as well."
