staff reporter
There is a spring donation drive under way at B.C. food banks, including the Friends in Need Food Bank in Maple Ridge.
Until May 9, Real Canadian Superstore in Pitt Meadows and Extra Foods in Maple Ridge are pitching in by holding their annual Extra Helping Food Drive.
Donations made in-store will go directly to The Friends in Need food bank.
Extra Helping donation bins will be in stores, and shoppers can purchase or bring non-perishable food items to put in the bins.
They can also make a cash donation at the check-outs.
There is an average of 96,000 people relying on food banks in B.C. each month, about 30 per cent of them children.
“Hunger is a reality for far too many families and individuals in British Columbia” said Laura Lansink, executive director of Food Banks BC. “The Extra Helping Food Drive is essential in helping local food banks replenish their stock and address the issue of hunger in our communities. And, 100 per cent of the food raised in the community stays with the local community food banks.”
Food banks’ most needed items are marked in select Loblaw banner stores with shelf tags featuring the Extra Helping logo, making it easy for customers to help locate them when shopping.
According to Food Banks Canada, the most needed non-perishable food items: pasta products, rice, canned meat and fish, dry and canned soups and stews, canned fruit and vegetables, flour, hot/cold cereals, whole grain cereals, peanut butter, aseptic packaged or canned/powdered milk, fruit juices, pasta sauce, beans and legumes, infant formula and baby food.
Loblaw Companies Limited and its banner stores hope to raise $1.8 million and 1.8 million pounds of food in 2013.