The Goldstream Food BankB次元官网网址檚 shelves are a little fuller following generous donations from West Shore residents through their local fire departments.
Over the weekend, the Colwood and View Royal fire departments dropped off the items, and cash, they received from West Shore residents, replenishing shelves that had become a bit sparse after a busy holiday season.
View Royal held its food drive on Saturday, raising $3,000 in donations and completely filling a trailer with non-perishable items for the food bank.
B次元官网网址淲e had over 40 members turn out for the event (and) the community was great, everybody knew what was going on,B次元官网网址� said Doug Chamberlain, president of the View Royal Fire Association.
Firefighters, along with a special guest from the North Pole, were only supposed to collect food until 2 p.m., but the overwhelming response extended that timeline by a couple of hours.
Colwood fireB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址楽anta Go- RoundB次元官网网址� toured the neighbourhood on Sunday, picking up enough food items to fill two pickup trucks and $1,256 in donations.
Thw Metchosin and Highlands departments have already dropped off food donations from their communities, while LangfordB次元官网网址檚 department will hold its drive on Christmas Eve.
While View Royal might have led the weekendB次元官网网址檚 haul in whatB次元官网网址檚 become a friendly annual competition amongst the departments, food bank volunteer Karen Birtwistle was quick to commend Colwood for the efficiency with which it packed up the donated food.
B次元官网网址淭hey both did phenomenally well, especially with the weather that they were fighting,B次元官网网址� she said, noting the wet and chilly weekend temperatures.
The influx of food and cash comes at the perfect time for the food bank, whose plentiful shelves have taken a significant hit during a busy December of Christmas hampers.
B次元官网网址淲hen I was in there (Tuesday) it was unbelievable the spaces and the gaps on those shelves,B次元官网网址� said Gayle Ireland, the food bankB次元官网网址檚 president.
B次元官网网址淭his wealth thatB次元官网网址檚 come in through the residents and delivered from the fire rescue (departments) is going to fill all of those spaces and give us some of the nice, unique food products. We buy the basics, but itB次元官网网址檚 fantastic to get the extras.B次元官网网址�
