Thanksgiving is a month away but the annual food drive is in full force.
This week, residents may notice a labelled plastic bag in their mailbox or doorknob in Prince Rupert — and Port Edward has been included this year.
The food donations grow each year, said the food drive coordinator, Julie Slocombe who expects to visit 4,000 homes for the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive.
Last year, there were more than 100 volunteers who travelled through the neighbourhoods collecting bags full of non-perishable food items. They collected 5,200lbs of food and dropped off 3,700 bags at doorsteps.
“Often in Prince Rupert people will put out their bag but they often put out a case of soup, or a case of Kraft Dinner. Sometimes to do one doorstep it takes three trips because Rupertites are so generous,” Slocombe said.
For people who choose to participate in the food drive, Slocombe asks they fill the bag with non-perishable food items, excluding homemade cans, and the volunteers will pick up the bag(s) on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.
“We will not ring your doorbell on collection day and we don’t solicit financial donations. Your contribution goes to the local food bank,” she said.
At least one in every 25 homes donated last year, Slocombe said, and she hopes this year one in every 12 will donate. The one difference this year is that the food drive is not using the brown bags. They’re using plastic bags instead due to cost.
Another difference this year, is that Trick or Treat So Someone Can Eat, run by the Prince Rupert Fellowship Baptist Church Youth Group, will combine their efforts with the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive. The youth group will not be doing their food drive in October.
People who want to participate in the food drive can connect with Slocombe through the Prince Rupert BC Thanksgiving Food Drive Facebook page.