Its presence in our city demonstrates our community's weakness as well as its strengths.
The Estevan food bank, operated, maintained and promoted by the Salvation Army, has become an integral part of us.
Who could provide this service any better?
We suggest no one, at least none that could be clearly and quickly identified.
The Army has built a level of confidence and community togetherness in our continual support of this service. Other religious groups/churches, service clubs, schools, businesses and individuals have joined in to provide vital sustenance for those who require a bit of assistance from time to time.
When people are going hungry in our city, we have failed. According to records being kept by the food bank operators, that number is about 100 or more families regularly.
But we have the ability to turn it around and make the story a successful one by our generosity in providing food and funds for the food bank. The Salvation Army's team assures us that the job is carried out without huge judgment. They do it day after day, week after week on our behalf.
They deserve our thanks and now, we understand, the food bank requires more of our support.
It's a down time right now at the local food bank.
The rush of goodwill and promotional drives ended a month after Christmas.
There are still some generous food and cash donations trickling in, but the demands on that food supply have increased by about 30 per cent according to Major Len Millar and his team who continue to provide the service to the city and immediate surrounding area.
The food bank is there to help those who need it.
Now they need us to help them before their supplies really dwindle.
Apparently there is no panic yet, but there are some nervous twitches when it comes to the topic of filling weekly food hampers with balanced, nutritional items for families that just can't pay the rent and also keep the cupboard sufficiently filled for all family members.
The Salvation Army and the food bank are doing the daily grind in helping them meet those needs.
It's the proper time for those of us who can step up, to do so.
We may have our periods of generosity and bursts of charity, but that daily grind that is the food bank, just goes on.
They're willing to provide the logistics, the details, personnel and time that is required to operate this service that includes a lot more than simply doling out food for anyone who asks for it.
Operating a food bank requires a lot of skills, the first among them ... compassion, to make it work.
We're fortunate to have those bases covered by a willing Army.
It's time for us to circle those bases with our donations. The need is obvious and we trust our response is too.
