INNISFAIL – It was a busy but rewarding day on Dec. 13 for Heather Taylor.
It was in the early afternoon when Taylor, co-coordinator of the Innisfail and District Food Bank, rode the CPKC Holiday Train into town to receive a $3,500 cheque from CPKC.
She then collected, with the help of the Blair Team at REMAX Real Estate Central Alberta, 894 pounds of food and another $2,471 in donations from Innisfailians attending the annual downtown holiday season event.
Three hours later she was at the new Shoppers Drug Mart on the east side of town to receive another and most special donation, one that has become a decade-long tradition of support to Innisfail’s vulnerable with items that are often not available to them for free.
“We don't buy it is because it isn't food. So, when we get it donated we then can give it to our clients,” said Taylor.
These items are hygiene products, like soap, deodorant, shampoos and conditioners.
It was a decade ago in 2014 when the Rotary Club of Innisfail made a decision to fill the void.
The service club launched its Rotary Food Bank Program during the holiday season to provide hygiene products to the community’s less fortunate.
Rotary gives $500 to a local store, which this year is Shoppers Drug Mart, and staff then puts together a cart filled with $500 worth of hygiene products at cost.
“It's one way for us to support the food bank every year when it's especially needed at Christmastime,” said Tammy Thompson, president of the local Rotary club. “And for items like hygiene products they (food bank) can’t purchase to give out it is something that we can provide.”
The new Shoppers outlet opened last May, and Taylor noted the store soon reached out to support the local food bank.
“They are very loyal to our food bank,” said Taylor.
Owner Sagar Vakil said when Rotary approached him to be part of the program he jumped at the chance, adding it was an “amazing” opportunity to quickly become a part of the community and to contribute.
“We always wanted to help out in the community and grow together,” said Vakil, adding his Shoppers store, which once had an outlet in town a decade ago, has received a warm and welcoming response from Innisfailians since opening its new doors last spring. “We are very happy to help.
“I know as the year goes by if there are less things I will be open to help the food bank anytime.”
