Estevan's annual opportunity to restock the shelves at the Salvation Army Food Bank will come Saturday.
The employees of the Estevan Canada Post Office and their families will hold their 17th Food Bank Drive Saturday morning. Estevan residents are asked to place their donation of non-perishable food items or storable garden produce so that it is visible from the street or apartment building entrance. People are also asked to attach the notice that went out in the mail Monday to their donation. Those who get their mail in a lock box at the post office are asked to bring their donations to the retail counter at the post office during regular hours.
The pick up of the products will begin at 9 a.m. by local post office employees who will then deliver the items to the Food Bank.
Major Len Millar of the Salvation Army said the annual drive is the largest of the year and is critical to their ability to help those in need throughout the winter months.
"Between 5,000 and 7,000 pounds of food are collected every year," said Millar. "It replenishes all our stocks and carries us through Christmas and into the new year. We would have serious problems providing food and would have to purchase items instead."
Millar added that this year's drive is especially important for the Food Bank. He said they were doing fine until June 19 when the residents of the Willow Park Greens Mobile Home Park and a number residents in the Souris Valley were forced from their homes due to the spring flooding.
"A lot of our stock was used at that time. People have come out through the summer and we have replenished some of the items so we are maintaining right at the moment but certainly over October, November and December, when it starts to get cold, there seems to be more people coming and requiring assistance."
Millar said the food bank is not overstocked in any particular item at the moment and will be able to use whatever non-perishable food items the public is willing to donate.
"We need pretty well every category, whether it is pasta or cereals, soup, tinned meat all of those items we can still use."
Along with ensuring that shelves in the food bank are stocked, the Salvation Army has also been busy helping those who lost their homes in the spring flooding get on with their lives.
Earlier this year it was announced the Salvation Army had leased the former Acklands-Grainger building, which is located behind their facility on Fourth Street, to house items such as furniture and appliances for flood victims.
Millar said they have extended their lease on the building and will continue to offer help to those who need it.
"We said right from the beginning, anybody from Roche Percee or from the valley who was displaced, we have provided anything from cutlery, plates, pots and pans, clothing, pictures. Everything is no charge, they can just come and take it," Millar said.
"We have found out now that very few will be able to move back into their homes. We've extended (their lease on the building) so now they are able to take any furniture they need. We don't have too many appliances, we have some fridges and stoves and one or two washers and dryers. As far as furniture goes, we probably have 100 to 150 items there. New clothes have been donated so we have been able to expand in that warehouse."
Millar estimates they have been able to assist 25 to 30 families thus far and will continue their efforts as long as they need to.
"We just don't want anyone to fall through the cracks. That is our biggest concern."
