In the spirit of Thanksgiving, one West Shore business decided to take a different approach to giving this month.

Langford-based Prosperity Planning usually sends pumpkins to their clients during the fall season. But this year, the Prosperity team decided that money would be better spent as a donation to the Goldstream Food Bank Society.

Owner Dale Collins estimated the cost of the deliveries to be roughly $3,000, when adding up the cost of the pumpkins, fuel and labour. That money went straight to the food bank this year. B次元官网网址淲e just thought this would be a better use for our community,B次元官网网址� she said.

Collins noted that one time her team went to the food bank to stock shelves, but found there was no food to put on the already bare shelves. That situation was hard to see, she said, as so many West Shore families rely on the service. ItB次元官网网址檚 a sight the team never wants to see again and this donation was their way of trying to take some of the pressure off and give back to the community.

B次元官网网址淭hat is our mission,B次元官网网址� Collins added.

Goldstream Food Bank volunteer and secretary Sandy Prette said cash donations are always appreciated. B次元官网网址淭hat can be pretty much doubled when we go to purchase [food],B次元官网网址� she said.

Thanks to a recent donation of more than 9,000 pounds of food  by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints via the B.C. Thanksgiving Food Drive, Prette said they should be able to keep the shelves stocked until the end of the year. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 going to take us a while to go through B次元官网网址� (But) there will be a time when we will have to dig into that money.B次元官网网址�

The new year is traditionally a lean time for the food bank and families. ThatB次元官网网址檚 when she said they will most likely turn the Prosperity Planning donation into food to fill the shelves.

The idea of donating money that would otherwise be designated for gifts or cards is a trend that is starting to take hold on the West Shore. Prette noted that even children come in with a donation. In some cases, she said, children will forego birthday gifts and instead have loonie or toonie parties. The child often keeps half and donates the rest to the food bank. While sometimes that donation is only $5 or $6, Prette said every little bit helps and is appreciated. She writes a letter to everyone that has donated and has crafted an extra special version for children that find themselves in the giving spirit.

For more information on how to give to the Goldstream Food Bank, visit foodbank.islandwebhosting.com or call them at 250-474-4443.

katie@goldstream

gazette.com