The Oliver food bank’s youngest volunteer, Audrey Noftle, helps her father Jordan Noftle unload donations during the Thanksgiving Food Drive on September 14.
Erin Christie photo
The Oliver Food Bank will be able to help feed more local families in need, thanks to the success of its recent food drive.
Jordan Noftle, Oliver area coordinator for the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive, said volunteers collected approximately 5,496 pounds of food in the Oliver area.
That’s 1,100 pounds more than last year and a 25 per cent improvement, Noftle added.
“The community response was amazing,” he said. “A huge thank you goes to everyone who continues to support the drive.”
Altogether, Noftle said they had 50 volunteers who helped distribute collection bags, collect donations and sort food when it comes in. He added that community partners were also a huge help providing volunteers, in-kind donations and/or food donations.
“Our newest community partner, the Oliver/Osoyoos Sikh Temple helped us collect over 600 pounds of food at the temple and reach some of our rural Oliver population that we cannot always get out to collect from because of the distances between homes.”
Weighing in-
Volunteers Valerie Wiren and Ron Parker weigh donations during Saturday’s Thanksgiving Food Drive. Approximately 50 volunteers participated in the drive and collected 5,496 pounds of food.
Erin Christie photo
Other community partners included Oliver SuperValu, Oliver Dental Care and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The drive, which runs annually across the province, was held on September 14, in support of Food Banks British Columbia.
According to FBBC’s recent stats, local food banks throughout BC help 100,000 people each month.
The Oliver food bank helps out an average of 175 people per week.
Noftle said the canned goods and non-perishables collected last Saturday will help replenish the food bank’s shelves, which he noted were nearly emptied out over the summer.
Oliver food bank coordinator, Jim Ouellette said he was equally grateful for the community’s support, and pleasantly surprised with the amount of food that came in. He said the donations will make a big difference.
“We are open once a week, 36 weeks a year, but when you’re supplying enough for two meals to 175 individuals, families and seniors, food can disappear quickly; this gets us off to a really good start.”
Ouellette said he doesn’t expect to see an increase in the number of people who visit the food bank, but the numbers have been consistent for the past three years.
The Oliver food bank does not receive any government funding and relies solely on donations.
The food bank accepts donations all year. Items of need include: canned meat/fish, canned fruit/vegetables, peanut butter, baby formula/baby food, rice, as well as whole wheat pasta and sauce.
If you would like to volunteer to help out, Ouellette suggests visiting the food bank during operating hours.
Erin Christie
Oliver Chronicle
