Donations are pouring in to the Friends In Need Food Bank in Maple Ridge this holiday season, but not as much as in previous years.
Mary Robson, executive director of the food bank, said donations are down about 25 per cent. However, she added, there are still several food drives yet to come in.
"So we are hopeful," Robson said.
Food bank representatives raised $989.50 at the Santa Claus Parade on Saturday, Dec. 6, and have been field some generous donations in the past couple of weeks.
The Maple Ridge Lions Club donated $4,000.
Vulcan Mechanical donated 1,980 pounds of both perishable and non-perishable items. These donations were collected by the owners of Vulcan Mechanical, Bromac Mechanical, Spire Refrigeration, Magnum Creek Cooling, Spitfire Controls, BWS Solutions and Core Millwright and Welding, and local community contractors.
Alphonse Seward, John Johnson, and those involved with the Broken Balls golf tournament raised 650 pounds of food and $5,700.
The Ridge Meadows RCMP raised $2,023.40 in cash and collected more than 500 pounds of food at their Cram the Cruiser event.
And Joy Nwali & Simi Khanna from the Caring Touch Health Care Services donated $1,200.
Robson noted the food bank just celebrated five years of the Perishable Food Program.
"If we did not have that program, we would not be able to provide our clients with the quantities and quality of fresh food. This program has proven its worth," she said.
New this year, added Robson, is the Baby Essentials drive being put on by Falcon Homes, to increase donations of diapers and formula.
"The cost of diapers and formula continues to increase and we try to keep inventory so we can help our clients by providing them with these basic needs for their babies," explained Robson.
Donations of essential baby items can be dropped off from noon until 5 p.m. from Saturday to Wednesday until Sunday, Dec. 15, at The North Presentation Centre, unit 120, 22638 119 Ave., Maple Ridge.
