The B.C. Thanksgiving Food Drive collected close to a ton of food during the inaugural event.
The Port McNeill drive was part of a province-wide effort Sept. 17 to assist the less fortunate.
In Port McNeill 21 volunteers visited 380 homes and collected 1,600 pounds of non-perishable food delivered to The Port Hardy Harvest Food Bank, which serves the entire North Island area.
The food drive was sponsored province-wide by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Food Banks British Columbia, and is supported by more than twenty local and regional community partners.
Across the province, the B.C. Thanksgiving Food Drive volunteers collected an estimated 247,605 pounds of food for more than 30 local food banks to assist the large numbers of people in B.C. communities who struggle to obtain the necessities of life, and are forced to turn to their local food banks to meet their basic nutritional needs.
Many of these people come from the most vulnerable segments of our society.
More than half of all households that rely on food banks are families with children, and half of these are headed by single parents.
Those participating in the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive may not impose ulterior agendas on any of its events: specifically, BCTFD volunteers do not proselytize, sell, or promote any products or ideas which are not directly tied to its fundamental purpose.
To show gratitude for all the food that comes in through the year, Cheryl Elliott of the Harvest Food Bank is hosting a barbecue tomorrow at the Market Street food bank.
“It’s not a fundraiser,” said Elliott.
“It really is just a big thanks to everyone for all their help,” she said.