The Chilliwack Salvation Army is making it easier for people to access the food bank.
Starting on Wednesday, May 14, a new program called Food Bank: After Hours will begin.
It is meant to provide "better access to food bank services for people who find our regular daytime hours challenging," said Josh Draheim with the Chilliwack Salvation Army.
The Pantry, a place at the Salvation Army where fresh produce and other food is available daily for those in need, will have completely new hours on Wednesdays. Additionally, the hamper program will have extended hours on Wednesdays.
"Finding a way to expand food bank hours has been something we have wanted to do for a long time, but there were logistical and staffing hurdles to overcome."
Draheim recalled overhearing multiple food bank guests tell their intake volunteer that they were missing work to pick up their food hamper.
"This raised the urgency for us, as we realized that this was probably a more common problem than we thought, and we felt compelled to take action," he said.
For The Pantry, every Wednesday (starting May 14) the new operating hours will be 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, The Pantry's normal operating hours will continue to be 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
For the hamper program, the Salvation Army will offer a brand-new slate of appointments from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. every Wednesday. There will still be a full day of regular hamper appointments on Wednesdays, but instead of ending at 3:15 p.m., appointments will continue until 6 p.m., Draheim noted.
People can book an After Hours hamper appointment over the phone or in-person at the office beginning the Thursday prior (ie: for Wednesday, May 14, bookings open on Thursday, May 8). Regular daily hamper appointments will still be booked on a single-day basis as usual, and the 30-day eligibility rule will still apply.
"So many people in our city are doing their best, and so we want to do our best to help them put healthy, consistent meals on the table for themselves and their families," Draheim said. "Food Bank: After Hours is simply one small way we can hopefully make it easier for those who are working, or otherwise busy during the day, to have access to the food bank hamper program and The Pantry."
For more, visit the Salvation Army Care and Share Centre at 45746 Yale Rd. or call 604-792-0001.
