As the first day of the new school year inches closer, expenses continue to add up for parents. It is also a time of year when local food banksB次元官网网址� shelves are looking rather empty.

Island Savings has set its sights on addressing that need. The companyB次元官网网址檚 aim is to provide 650,000 meals to Island children and families over the next three years. Their new community investment program, The Full Cupboard, looks to reduce hunger across the Island through a combination of food, funds and awareness raising activities. Every dollar raised will go directly to 11 food banks located in neighbourhoods served by Island Savings branches, including the Goldstream Food Bank.

B次元官网网址淎t this time of year, thousands of Island parents are stretched to buy new clothing and school supplies while still managing to put food on the table,B次元官网网址� Island Savings president Randy Bertsch said in a release. B次元官网网址淭hanks to the buying power of food banks, one dollar a day can feed a child in B.C. B次元官网网址� and so raising funds with our members and employees through The Full Cupboard will relieve some of this immediate need for food while we develop capacity-building programs to reduce food bank dependence in the long term.B次元官网网址�

Island Savings launched the program last week with an initial $8,800 raised through employee and member donations over the summer.

B次元官网网址淪ummer break is often the toughest part of the year for families,B次元官网网址� added Allan Lingwood, interim executive director of The Mustard Seed in Victoria. B次元官网网址淪chool-based meal programs end, parents have to address additional childcare needs and then stress over preparations for their children going back to school.B次元官网网址�

Lingwood noted the The Mustard Seed alone sees up to a 25-per-cent increase in both food bank use and family hamper distribution as parents face competing priorities heading into September.

B次元官网网址淐reating The Full Cupboard B次元官网网址� working towards a reality where no Island child goes hungry B次元官网网址� is a natural fit with the values weB次元官网网址檝e been living out on Vancouver Island, Salt Spring and Pender since our business began,B次元官网网址� continued Bertsch. B次元官网网址淥ne in three Island food bank users is a child, a fact that our communities need to be acutely aware of if weB次元官网网址檙e going to be able to move the dial on hunger.B次元官网网址�

Islands Savings has been working on addressing that need through its Growing Island Families Together (GIFT) program for the past six years. GIFT aims to help at-risk children across the region build self-confidence and resilience and increase engagement within their local communities. The Full Cupboard is an expansion of that program.

Until Sept. 1, Island Savings will donate $1 for every share The Full Cupboard video receives from the organizationB次元官网网址檚 Facebook page (). Financial donations to the program can also be made at any Island Savings branch, including in Langford at 2917 Jacklin Rd. or online at .

katie@goldstreamgazette.com