This is the time of year when the need for a local food bank is most pronounced and yet this is also the season when general interest in stocking their shelves is at its lowest point.
When these two factors meet in the middle, there is a crisis for those attempting to keep the nutritious food supply available to those who require the service. In this instance, it's the Salvation Army.
With that pressure situation in mind, Lt. Brian Bobolo and food bank personnel have launched a Fill the Bank food drive project that is appealing to area residents and businesses to support their efforts to fill the shelves in time for a busy summer.
"No donation is too small for those in need," said Bobolo.
In the summer, he said, traditional food bank donors tend to leave the city to go on vacation while food bank clients, on the other hand, remain in the city due to lack of resources that would allow them to leave. Their food needs remain constant.
A few cans of food or small financial donation are worth more than you might think, said Bobolo. It can mean the difference between good health and unmet nutritional needs for many.
"While those extra granola bars and cans of fruit sitting in the cupboard or the spare change in the coffee can on the shelf may not mean much to you, they can have a significant impact on the lives of those we serve throughout the year," Bobolo said.
Food banks are about dignity and opportunity, the Salvation Army officer added. When families have access to well-balanced diets, they experience better physical health and this, in turn, leads to improved mental health and a positive outlook. Healthy individuals can work better and families thrive and enjoy life together.
"Every individual has dignity and worth," said Bobolo. "Why shouldn't our food bank clients have access to the same opportunities in life the rest of us take for granted, especially those of us who can afford to allow food to go bad in our refrigerators."
The Salvation Army also provides food to area schools breakfast and lunch programs. They have over 200 individuals who receive food on a regular basis, (about once every two months) from the SA Food Bank Hamper program. This has grown by 10 per cent in each of the last three years.
In addition to its other food distribution programs, the SA has seen a growing demand for bagged lunches and ready-to-eat food from people who struggle to find permanent housing.
"The number of people living in trailers, automobiles and outdoors swells during the warmer months. People come into town seeking employment and need assistance with food until they get settled and receive their first paycheques. When we discover where people are camping out, we load up our big blue van and bring food out to them. Pull top items such as canned meats, pasta, and juice boxes are particularly useful to this program. The hamper program is also in need of all other food items with the exception of soup and spaghetti, which remain in sufficient supply."
The Salvation Army Food Bank will distribute in excess of $50,000 worth of food this year through its various programs. This includes about $10,000 worth of fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, whole grain and meat products, which the SA will purchase using the cash donations.
"We are committed to following the Canadian Food Guide by providing well-balanced healthy food from each of the four major food groups to everyone who seeks our assistance," said Bobolo.
The Salvation Army officer said they are grateful for the longstanding partnership they have forged and enjoyed with area residents.
"Together we have faithfully served our neighbours since the arrival of the Salvation Army in Estevan in 1914. I am confident we can work together to meet the nutritional needs of our friends this summer."
Financial and food donations may be dropped off at the Salvation Army on Fourth Street, right across from City Hall Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
