Brent Palmer's guiding hand steered food banks near and far to a better place throughout a career that spanned decades of devoted, tireless service.

Palmer, who died on Nov. 18, was a founding member of Food Banks BC and served on the board of Food Banks Canada. He was well known to many in Victoria as the director of the Mustard Seed Food Bank. He also handled media chores, planned events, and raised donations during his 35 years with the organization.

The longtime Sooke resident sat on the board of governors for Camosun College after he retired, and volunteered with the Sooke Food Bank.

"Brent accomplished all that despite being dyslexic and only having a Grade 7 education," said his wife Marie Elmore. "He was not only an idea man who came up with so many innovative, successful campaigns, but he also did whatever else was needed to keep things running smoothly.

"Sometimes he was the shipper-receiver, sometimes the truck driver, sometimes he was just the kind man who heard about someone in need. He would slip out of the office to personally deliver a hamper to someone like an 85-year-old shut-in who needed more than anything to have someone who cared sit and talk to her for a while. He was also very humble and never wanted to accept credit for anything."

The holiday season was especially hectic and demanding for Palmer, Elmore said.

"He worked flat out seven days a week all of December in the lead-up to Christmas," she recalled. "The only time I saw him was when he was on TV, asking for donations. When he came home on Christmas Eve, the last thing he would say before he went to sleep was 'I hope I didn't forget anyone.' There were times when I thought I might have to call an ambulance because Brent was so exhausted.'"

There were more than a few Christmas dinners where Palmer struggled to stay awake at the table, she added.

"Brent didnB次元官网网址檛 just look for donations to hand out food, he wanted to get people on their feet," Elmore stressed.

Palmer organized skill training for his clients and volunteers, Food Safe courses and equipment operator tickets for forklifts and other machinery, which they could use to find better jobs, Another initiative he launched was with local farmers, enlisting them to take on food bank clients who wanted to learn how to garden and grow their own food to work for them in exchange for donations.

"Brent didnB次元官网网址檛 just feed people, he found them jobs, he found missing family members," Elmore said. "He found things people needed and couldnB次元官网网址檛 afford, everything from furniture to expensive medical items, and he had a soft spot for seniors, children and animals. He even had hay delivered for a donkey when he found out the owner couldn't afford to feed it."

While Elmore could easily provide many more examples of Palmer's generosity and caring, she was eager to share an example that stands out for her.

"A young single mother from a tiny isolated northern community sent him an email out of the blue begging for help," she explained. "It was winter and they were nearly out of food, had no transportation, and didn't know how she was going to feed her kids. Brent checked it out, verified her story and found that there was no help for her anywhere at all in that area, so he swung into action. He gathered together enough food to last them, as well as clothing and toys for the kids. Then he arranged for it all to be shipped up to her within just a few days, which was a difficult task because they were so isolated."

Sooke Food Bank president Kim Metzger first met Palmer in 2012 when he was with the Mustard Seed.

"Brent really took me under his wing and taught me all about advocating for food banks," Metzger said. "And not just for food donations, but how we could work toward eliminating the need for food banks. He was a visionary and a kind soul. You felt like you had known Brent forever after just a few minutes. Although he only served on the Sooke Food Bank's board since the beginning of the year, Brent made a lasting impact on everyone here."

Fran Kitson, who has served as chaplain and advocated for the Mustard Seed for 39 years, said Palmer began as a volunteer with the organization before eventually being named as a director.

"I never met a man who was more passionate (about helping others) than Brent," she said. "He really cared about our volunteers and always went out of his way to acknowledge their efforts. No one worked longer or harder than Brent...There's no one I would rather work with."

Palmer's efforts to launch the turkey count ensured everyone in need got a turkey in their Christmas hamper, Kitsom noted.

He not only launched the popular Ships Light-Up fundraising event at the dockyard in Esquimalt, but he was there every night collecting donations as well.