The Millet Food Bank is thrilled by the success of the latest food drive. On Saturday Aug. 21, 2021, volunteers from the Young Women’s Group of the Church of Latter Day Saints in Wetaskiwin took to the streets of Millet collecting food donations and more.
Manager of the Millet Food Bank Debbie Herman says that the donations that came in from the food drive are incredibly helpful and will help the food bank get through the Christmas season. Herman says that usually the biggest fundraiser for the food bank is the CP Holiday Train which comes through the town every second year. Unfortunately due to COVID-19 concerns the train was cancelled in 2020.
“This was an opportune moment because it was an off-train year,” said Herman. She says that this food drive made up fro the train not coming last year or this year.
The food drive raised just over 3,200 lbs of food and $900 in monetary donations.
Herman says that the cash goes a long way with the food bank, especially when it comes to purchasing groceries for the food bank that aren’t regularly donated—including perishables. She says that because of the drive this summer Millet Food Bank can focus their efforts on giving rather than fundraising this holiday season.
This will be incredibly helpful especially as food bank use is trending upwards across the province in recent months. Herman says that many food banks are noticing more families that they have never seen before start to need their help as provincial funding has gone down- including CERB benefits, which previously helped families to avoid the need of food bank assistance.
In addition to the food drive, Herman says that the generosity of the community with their fresh grown garden produce as well as the food bank’s plot at the Millet Community Garden has been incredible for providing fresh vegetables.
“It’s so fabulous,” says Herman. “Right now fresh garden produce is in abundance. We have several garden donors that have kept us quite well stocked.”
Herman says that the success of the food drive wouldn’t be the same without the generosity of the Millet community.
“The community continues to amaze,” she says.
shaela.dansereau@pipestoneflyer.ca
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