CARLYLE - December has been an extremely busy month for the Carlyle & District Foodbank, as they prepare to serve clients from their new Carlyle location.
The foodbank is now located in Bay 4, 200 Service Road on the north side of Highway 13. It anchors the west end of the building that includes the Moose Mountain Karate Club, Cross Fit and The Floor Store.
Chairwoman Theresa Luedtke is thankful to the Carlyle United Church for being able to use their basement space for over 24 years. The increased volumes of hampers and stairs were the determining factors in the move to the new location, where all hamper preparation and distribution to clients is on one level.
The relocation was held on the last Saturday of November. There were 24 volunteers assisting with the move, including members of the Redvers and Carlyle Lions Clubs, Crescent Point Energy, Performance Realty, Merit Ford and family members of the foodbank staff.
The Carlyle & District Foodbank is a non-profit organization which was formed in 1989 and is one of 36 registered with Saskatchewan Foodbanks. For the first 11 months of the year, the Carlyle & District Foodbank prepared 875 food hampers, which served 2,184 clients, an average of 199 clients per month. Among the clients, 1,363 were adults and 821 were children.
In addition to grocery items and hygiene products, clients could also select donated winter clothing. More related programs are in the works with the added space now available.
Luedtke is very proud of the experienced staff of volunteers that keep the foodbank running smoothly, which serves clients that live within a 60-kilometre radius of Carlyle. The foodbank has donation dropoffs at Arcola Foods, the Southern Plains Co-op’s Carlyle location, Carlyle Family Foods and the Redvers Co-op.
Financial donations are accepted by cheque to Box 356 Carlyle or e-transfer to carlylefoodbank123@gmail.com. Tax receipts are available. The foodbank is very appreciative to the service clubs, schools, church groups, businesses and individual donors for their support over the past year.
