Food drives tend to come in seasons, as does need.
A big one arrives as winter settles in with its celebrations such as Christmas and school breaks where kids can’t rely on added meals and snacks. With that in mind, the influx of food drives and monetary donations are welcome in the face of increasing need.
And while it may seem a good time to clear the cupboard, food bank staff urge residents to check the dates before they donate. The food bank can take food items up to six months past the manufacturer’s date, but that’s as far as they’ll go.
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Last year the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank had a sizeable donation come in, something in the range of 10 pallets of food, recalled operations manager Tyson Elder.
Unfortunately about half could not, in good conscience, go out to clients in need.
“We had things in those donations that were from the ’80s,” Elder said.
One item he’ll never forget is the package of Jell-O older than he is. More of a collector’s item than a charitable donation, the Jell-O was a speciality item featuring promotional Ghostbusters stickers. The movie came out in 1984.
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“I hate to say that’s not a regular thing that happens at food banks but it does,” Elder said. “It’s a dignity thing … we’re not giving them old food.”
Learn how to best donate online at splfoodbank.com or call 250-655-0679.
