With December approaching, a Nanaimo non-profit is seeking volunteers and donations of food and money as it gears up to assist people during the Christmas season.
Pickup times of Christmas hampers are being booked as part of Salvation Army and Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank’s Hamperville. Hamper distribution begins Dec. 4 and will be ongoing till Dec. 23.
Hampers will include a grocery store gift card, potatoes, carrots and eggs, detergent and soap and non-perishable food items, according to Loaves and Fishes’ website, and Peter Sinclair, Loaves and Fishes’ executive director, said the items most sought include canned meat, fruit, vegetables and fish, peanut butter, pasta and rice.
He said organizers anticipate a 30 per cent increase in hamper need this year, or 3,500 hampers helping 7,000 people.
“We need lots of volunteers,” said Sinclair. “There’s literally hundreds of volunteer shifts that still need to be filled. If you go to our website, you can see all the shifts that are available, you can pick a time, and you just sign up online for what works for you.”
In addition, regular food bank service won’t halt during the holiday season.
“The big change this year is that we’re running our regular program right through Christmas, so people can continue to access the regular hamper, and then sign up for a Christmas hamper too,” said Sinclair. “What we’ve done in the past is shut our regular hamper program down for three weeks, and then only offer Christmas hampers. So we’re going to run both of them.”
Food donations can be made at designated bins at grocery stores in Nanaimo, as well as the warehouse at 210 Fry St.
For more information, including how to book a pickup time or to donate, visit www.nanaimoloavesandfishes.org.
People coming to pick up hampers should be on time and bring boxes and bags for items.
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