The street by street food and funds drive on July 22, organized by the Sicamous Volunteer Fire Department, received plenty of support from the community and resulted in a big boost to the ability of the Eagle Valley Community Support Society’s food bank program to meet the need.
In all, 186 bags of food, which translates to approximately 3,250 pounds of food, with a value of approximately $8,000 was generously donated by community members, along with more than $750 in cash donations.
While food bank hampers are prepared for households ranging from one person up to 10 people, an average cost of a hamper is approximately $120. So having the extra support will mean that the food bank can serve more people, and also serve them more often during the upcoming months.
Based on previous experience with what happens when the Sicamous tourism season is not all that it could be, the directors of EVCSS were very concerned about how they would meet the needs of local families in the coming months, because a poor summer this year will mean that many will struggle right through until next summer. The impact of the flooding, and the resulting loss in business and employment, is devastating to many families and, in order to provide families with funds that may be needed during the winter months to pay essential bills, buy needed medications, school supplies and many other things that families must pay for to stay afloat, the society must have enough food stockpiled so that it will not have to purchase more than protein foods and produce.
Janet McClean Senft, spokesperson for Eagle Valley Community Support Society has expressed the appreciation of the society for the way both members of the community and many from outside the community have recognized that support will be needed, and have come forward to offer it. McClean Senft would like all the businesses that are having a tough summer to know that EVCSS appreciates all the support they have received from local business in the past, and that now the society can “pay it forward” by providing support to any owners or their staff in need. McClean Senft says there have been rumours that some of the small businesses, in particular, may be facing a bleak future, and while there is a sense that support of food and funds are generally needed by those on fixed incomes, a good number of those in need in Canada are employed at least seasonally and are sometimes self-employed.
“We want everyone to know that help is available and, with the continued generosity of those that support us, we will be able to provide it,” says McClean Senft.
Submitted by the Eagle Valley Community Support Society.