Bringing in your empties will help Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank keep its shelves full.
Together with Regional Recycling, the food bank has launched the Empties 4 Food bin program. Nanaimo residents with empty refundable bottles and cans can drop them off at select locations and all proceeds will go toward Loaves and Fishes programs, including the Food 4U Food recovery program, which sees unwanted food from stores collected and distributed to those in need.
“Loaves and Fishes requires over $45,000 a month to keep our programs going and so this generates much-needed funds to keep those programs going to make sure that we’re able to provide the abundance of food that the community has made available to us, to actually make that available to people in need,” said Peter Sinclair, Loaves and Fishes executive director.
Regional Recycling has provided nine drop-off bins where residents can bring their containers. They are situated at Real Canadian Superstore, Triple T Party Rentals, Christ Community Church, Maranatha Foursquare Gospel Church, Brechin United Church, Neighbourhood Church, the student residence at Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo Regional Landfill, and Loaves and Fishes’ warehouse on Fry Street.
“People don’t like having to drive across town to go and return empties and they also like the idea of donating to charities, so when Paul Shorting (Regional Recycling general manager) offered us these bins as part of a partnership, it seemed to fit perfectly. It’s giving the community a service and also helping us offset our operating costs,” said Abby Sauchuk, food bank development officer.
Shorting said Regional Recycling supports different organizations in the community, including the food bank.
“Peter and his staff here, we’ve supported for many years and we thought it was another option for the consumer to keep their empties out of landfill, keep them out of the blue box and supporting a great cause,” said Shorting.
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com