ESTEVAN - The shelves at the Estevan Salvation Army's food bank have been largely replenished after Canada Post's Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday morning.
Approximately 2,700 pounds of food were collected. Employees of Canada Post circulated the community and loaded up their vehicles with non-perishable food items, and then brought the community's support back to the Salvation Army's building, where the items were sorted and placed on the food bank's shelves.
"I do believe we had six or seven trucks out there, picking the food up," said community ministries director Ronza Reynard.
The shelves were about half-full prior to the food drive, but now she believes they are likely about 75 per cent capacity. Reynard noted that people paid closer attention to the expiration dates on the food, as the Salvation Army didn't receive as much out-of-date food.
Stamp Out Hunger came not only at a time when the stocks needed to be filled, but it came just before the Christmas season, which is the busiest time of the year for the food bank.
"Now there's lots going on, lots of different food drives. But this is a big one for us. It's the biggest food drive of the year," said Reynard.
Approximately 20-25 volunteers helped out during the day. In addition to the Canada Post employees and the Salvation Army's helpers, the food drive had help from the employees at the MicroTel Hotel in Estevan.
The Salvation Army also typically receives donations after the food drive, because people might not have been home that morning. Some people came in during the afternoon and said they had a donation.
The food bank is also always looking for hygiene products, which are expensive but are a necessity.
Reynard said she can't wait for next year's food drive with Canada Post, but she's not sure when it would happen, as the food drive has taken place in June in recent years to help the Salvation Army meet its needs during the summer months.
