INNISFAIL – For the past several years a local partnership has helped ensure families in need have more than just food.
Since 2014, the Rotary Club of Innisfail has partnered with the Innisfail and District Food Bank for the Innisfail Food Bank Support Program. The initiative provides families in need with essential, non-food items, including bars of hand soap, men’s and women’s deodorant and shampoo.
The Rotary club teamed up with John’s No Frills for a donation on Aug. 22.
“These are all items that (are not in) the Innisfail food bank’s mandate to provide and purchase,” said Andrew Ritson-Bennett, president of the Rotary club. “If they have financial donations they have to use those financial donations to buy non-perishable food items.
“For those families that might not be able to afford food it’s very logical that they can’t afford these essential items as well,” he added.
Every year, the Rotary club purchases up to $500 in essential items from local stores and pharmacies. This year a total of $517 in essential items was purchased by the club at John's No Frills, which also donated another $250 in product, bringing the total to more than $750.
“We do (this donation to the food bank) a couple of times a year,” said Ritson-Bennett, noting local stores and pharmacies, including Jackson’s Pharmasave, John’s No Frills and the Innisfail Co-op have all participated in the program over the past five years.
“We’ll continue this (program). It’s certainly important to the well-being of our community,” he said.
John Harris, owner of John’s No Frills, was happy to contribute to the program and help local families.
“Any time an organization has a good idea and is looking for support for a good cause, we’re always looking for a way we can support that as well,” said Harris.
Brenda Hand, co-cordinator with the food bank, said families in need are grateful for the essential items.
“People are very appreciative to get personal care items like shampoo and soap and they’re happy to use it,” said Hand. “We are very happy to receive this (donation) from the Rotary Club of Innisfail and John’s No Frills.”
