The Kimberley Helping Hands Food Bank held its Annual General Meeting on February 13, 2019, and President Donna Purves reported that once again, the Food Bank had a very busy year.
The Food Bank distributed 913 regular food hampers and 550 emergency hampers, assisting 227 households, which include 343 adults and 186 children.
“The Food Bank continues its mission to provide healthy nutritional food to the needy within our designated area, including Meadowbrook, Wycliffe, Wasa, Fort Steele, St. Mary’s Lake, Ta Ta Creek and Skookunchuk,” Purves said. “During our Christmas Hamper Program we distributed 158 hampers which included 271 adults and 122 children.”
Kimberley Food Bank operations are overseen by an elected Board of Directors, who set policy, prepare budgets and assess the effectiveness of the program. They also engage in fundraising.
“Volunteers are the backbone of the Food Bank,” Purves said,. “they are generous, caring community members, who are guided by the Food Bank Cod of Ethics, as established the by the Canadian Association of Food Banks. No volunteer or director is paid. The Food Bank survives on donations, both monetary and in goods from the community and surrounding area, and by fundraising projects carried out by the Board of Directors.”
Last July, the Food Bank became involved in the Food Recovery Project in Kimberley.
READ: Healthy Kimberley Food Recovery Program underway
READ: Kimberley Food Recovery Depot hosting open house
Anyone can join the Food Bank, by paying an annual fee and agreeing to abide by their policies. Members are entitled to vote at the AGM. To volunteer at the Food Bank, you must be a paid up member.
Clients of the Food Bank must meet eligibility requirements as well. Once approved, a client may be eligible for a hamper every 60 days. Emergency hampers are available for crisis situations. The needs of children are always accommodated.
“Trained volunteers insure that food and supplies are ordered, schedules prepared, applications screened and filed, and statistics collected. All efforts are made to accommodate the special needs of our clients,” Purves said.
“We would like to extend a huge thank you to the directors and volunteers for their valuable commitment of time and expertise to keep the Food Bank operating at such a high and successful level. We would also like to thank the merchants and the community for their continued support of the Food Bank.”
carolyn.grant@kimberleybulletin.com
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