The food bank that serves the Canora area is in desperate need of any donations as the number of families in need increase near Thanksgiving.
Pastor Mavis Watson, who runs the Filling the Gap Food Bank in Canora, is looking for donations from the community.
“We just got a donation of about seven bags full of food from the Co-op, but even with that, our cupboards are pretty bare,” she said.
Watson recently took a FOODSAFE course to better serve the food bank, which has been running for over eight years.
“The Canora Ministerial Association set it up to address the needs that came to light through the churches. Often, people in need will contact the churches when they are in need of food or shelter.”
The food bank was formed so that the churches could work together and better help those in need in the Canora area.
Watson does her best to maintain the Canada Food Guide when providing meals and food hampers to visitors to the food bank, which mainly include single mothers, recently unemployed workers, and people with illnesses.
“We give out an average of four to eight hampers monthly, but depending on the season, that number can increase to 20,” Watson said. “We usually give out up to 40 hampers during the Christmas season as well.”
The main items that Filling the Gap Food Bank is in need of are canned foods such as soup, salmon, tuna, ham, chicken, and fruit; coffee, sugar and cereal. Anything that can be frozen, such as hot dogs, hams, hamburgers, drumsticks, bread, and margarine are also acceptable. Garden items, such as potatoes, carrots, onions and other vegetables that are easily stored, can be donated.
If money is donated, Watson will use it to buy perishable items.
Non-food items, such as dish soap, hand soap, shampoo, garbage bags, toilet paper and cleaning solvent, are also necessary. “People in need are just like anyone else,” Watson said.
The only guidelines Watson has are that those who wish to donate check the dates on foods to make sure they are not expired and do not bring foods that need to stay in a fridge or foods that are more unique.
“Canora residents are very generous, and we rely on that to continue providing services.
Those who wish to donate items to the food back or who wish to request a hamper may contact Watson.
