Sparwood dug deep over the weekend to donate much-needed food to the needy at the annual Sparwood Food Drive.
A pandemic couldn’t stop the annual event, which fills the food bank in Sparwood each Christmas season, with the event switching to a drive-through at three locations around town for 2020.
”We didn’t keep an official count (of people donating), but I was pretty impressed, people were really keen to go and donate,” said Ed Ehrler of Sparwood SAR, describing Sparwood folks coming by to drop off donations before they were even properly set up on Sunday night.
“People were keen to get out there and support the food bank and help us out.”
Ehrler said that while the food drive netted fewer donations than previous years, “that was to be expected.
“What the food bank also told me was they were impressed with the quality of what was donated,” said Ehler, describing the generosity of the townsfolk.
“People walked straight out of Save-on-Foods with their arms full of food, walked over and dumped it all on our table.”
Ehler reported that the Sparwood Food-bank seemed to think they’d be just fine heading in to winter thanks to the drive.
“Considering that we’re doing this in the middle of a pandemic … I’d say it was quite successful.”
About 20 volunteers from Sparwood SAR, Sparwood Fire and Rescue and BC Ambulance took part in the event - though those numbers were down due to limits on gatherings.
“I’d just like to say a huge thank-you for the whole community for coming out and making this a success. It was great to see so many people making the effort to come out of their houses and drive down to the drop-off points, bringing their donations to us since we couldn’t come to them.
“The food bank is a really vital program this time of year,and with this whole pandemic situation going on as a whole. It’s really great to see they still have the support they need.
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scott.tibballs@thefreepress.ca
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