Nelson Food Cupboard, Nelson & District Credit Union team up to host food drive
By Nelson Daily Staff
Rising food costs and more users in recent months has prompted the Nelson Food Cupboard to team up with the Nelson and District Credit Union to host a food drive from Friday, April 1 to Friday, April 15.
Anyone who is able to make a donation can drop it off at the NDCU or directly at the Nelson Food Cupboard (NFC).
“Lately, we’ve been serving around 175 people every day we are open. With a lot of food costs rising 30 – 50% it’s a challenge to keep our shelves as well stocked as we’d like and to give people struggling to make ends meet enough food for themselves and their children,” said Jenny Erickson, Nelson Food Cupboard Society’s (NFCS) Food Bank Manager.
“We are always sourcing out the best deals to stretch our budget, but even those have got more expensive and haven’t allowed us to offer the variety, especially of fresh produce, that we normally can.”
Tom Atkins, Marketing and Relationship Development Manager for the NDCU said, said the local Credit Union is behind the efforts of the Nelson Food Cupboard.
“In the communities we serve, we increasingly see the challenges individuals and families have in meeting their basic food requirements, so it is important for us to support the Nelson Food Cupboard,” Atkins said.
“Their great services offer individuals and families access to barrier-free healthy food and programs with personal development opportunities.”
Both groups would love to see the bins loaded with healthy non-perishables, such as whole grains, sugar-free peanut butter, canned fish, and low-sugar cereals and snacks for kids.
The NFC also welcomes perishable food donations, but those must be coordinated through the NFC to ensure refrigeration space is available upon delivery – donors can call the NFC at (250)354-1633.
“This is a short term solution to a big problem,” acknowledges Marya Skrypiczajko, NFCS Coordinator.
“What we’d really like to see are structural changes to the provincial disability and income assistance rates and a higher minimum wage so less people in our community live in poverty and need to rely on food banks and hot meat programs.”
When asked what more the community can do, Skrypiczajko suggested people could become monthly financial donors to support the NFC’s work year round.
Monthly donations go toward food costs for the food bank and programs that teach low income community members valuable food and life skills through gardening, cooking and produce gleaning programs.
The Nelson Food Cupboard is located at 602 Silica Street, in the lower hall of the Nelson United Church. For more information on the Nelson Food Cupboard, visit www.foodcupboard.orgor like https://www.facebook.com/foodcupboard?ref=hl
