Rick Stiebel/B次元官网网址 Gazette staff
While itB次元官网网址檚 nice to hear that the numbers are as good as theyB次元官网网址檝e been in the past few years, a lot of people are still in need of a helping hamper.
The demand is still high, said Gayle Ireland, president of the Goldstream Food Bank. B次元官网网址淲e deal with close to 10,000 people throughout the year, and another 2,000 hampers for families at Christmas.B次元官网网址�
Almost a third of the people they assist are between the ages of an infant and 17.
Another challenge volunteers address is dealing with people with specialized dietary needs because of religion or culture. B次元官网网址淲e do our best to provide what we can for their specific needs,B次元官网网址� she said.
The food bank follows established guidelines for nutrition and bases the size of the hamper on the number of people in the family. B次元官网网址淲e interview our clients to find out what they want and donB次元官网网址檛 want and try to build each hamper according to their needs,B次元官网网址� Ireland explained.
The Goldstream Food Bank relies heavily on the community. Volunteers work closely with grocery chains to reclaim produce and other items. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e always working to expand that base,B次元官网网址� Ireland noted. B次元官网网址淚t makes a world of difference in what weB次元官网网址檙e able to offer. ThereB次元官网网址檚 so many businesses, organizations, schools, churches and individuals that we rely on for support.B次元官网网址�
She illustrated the difference individuals make by talking about an elderly woman who came in a few days ago with some produce from her garden that she couldnB次元官网网址檛 use herself. B次元官网网址淭hat highlights the kind of ongoing support we get from the community.B次元官网网址�
While September marks the annual return of kids to school, it also means more specific needs at the food bank. B次元官网网址淲e can use anything that helps with making lunches,B次元官网网址� Ireland said. B次元官网网址淲e would also welcome school supplies that people may have and donB次元官网网址檛 need. WeB次元官网网址檙e already starting to think about Christmas as well.B次元官网网址� This is the first year the Christmas Hamper program will be administered by the Goldstream Food Bank Society, she added.
Ireland had a simple answer when asked what has kept her volunteering at the Goldstream Food Bank for more than 30 years, the past 16 as president. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 seeing how grateful people are,B次元官网网址� she said without hesitation. B次元官网网址淵ou see the tears, the relief on their faces, that they can put food on the table for their family.B次元官网网址�
