In the spirit of giving this holiday season, don't forget to give a little to those less fortunate.
A great way to do this is to support the local food bank. The Carlyle and District Food Bank provides Christmas Hampers filled with all the goods needed for a holiday meal to between 60 and 80 families each season. This is up from about 20 families who access the food bank throughout the remainder of the year.
Since Christmas time can be especially tight for families, the food bank is there to give their support when it's needed most.
In addition to being filled with all the fixings for a Christmas meal, the hampers include enough items to get the families through until the new year.
Given the fact more hampers go out this time of year, the food bank depends more on the generosity of people and businesses more than ever this time of year. Thankfully, people who can afford to be are usually more generous this time of year, and therefore, any additional food donated is saved to meet the need of families in the winter months.
In terms of items, the food bank accepts any non-perishable food including: dry and canned soups and stew; pasta and rice products; canned meats and fish; canned fruits and vegetables; flour, breakfast cereal; peanut butter; fruit juices; pancake mix; syrup; salad dressing and pasta sauces; to name a few.
Since these hampers are going out to help with the Christmas meal, people are encouraged to donate items specific to that day including, cranberries, pickles, stove top stuffing, jello, items for Christmas baking, chocolate, candies, cakes, and so on.
Each hamper also includes a turkey therefore, people can also donate a turkey or money to be used towards purchasing a turkey, if they so wish. People are asked to donate as soon as possible, since the food bank needs to put in a food order for any additional items needed prior to putting hampers together. Again, any food donated after the orders are put together, will still go to good use at another point in time.
The food bank also needs volunteers to help fill the hampers on Dec. 14 and 15, as families come to pick them up on Dec. 15.
Hampers go out the third Wednesday of every month, and since the number is lower during the year, volunteers are usually only needed the morning of to pack.
To donate food items or money or to volunteer time packing hampers, contact Marg Krenze at 453-6084. The Carlyle and District Food Bank helps all families in need from the Stoughton area to the Manitoba border, up to the Wawota area and down to the United States border.
