Mikeal Bird, a student at Lawrence Elementary School, pictured here holding up a bag that will be dropped off a residences throughout the city. (submitted photo/Erin Katerynych)

By Martin Martinson

Leading a helping hand

A community united against hunger

May 29, 2019 | 10:00 AM

CBI Health Care Centre has partnered with Lawrence and Bready elementary schools and the Battlefords Gymnastics Club to develop a food drive in hopes of collecting donations for the local food bank.

Erin Katerynych, the executive director at the Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre, said the annual fundraiser is critical to helping those in need at the most fundamental level within the community.

“When CBI does their food drive, it helps carry us through the summer,” she said. “This is the lowest point for donations, because people are [out and about], but it’s also one of our busiest times of the year. Our shelves are bare right now. We’ve already cut back on our hampers because we are running out of food to hand out.”

The four organizations have been dropping off yellow Frazer’s No Frills’ bags in an effort to collect food for those in need during the summer months. Residents wishing to contribute are invited to fill their bag with food items ahead of Thursday, May 30, when the groups will head out once again to retrieve the full bags.

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May is one of the busiest months at the Food Bank. Last year alone, the Food Bank handed out 767 hampers during the month, helping 2,447 people. The number of people in need has remained consistent once again this year.

The spring and summer months are generally when donations to the food bank drop, and therefore, the Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre has come to the point of demand outweighing supply currently within the community.

Katerynych said the goal of the Food Bank is to provide a hand up in a family’s time of need.

“I would say over 80% of our clients come in as a last resort,” she said. “So when you donate to the food bank you know that you are helping someone who is in need of a hand up.”

In addition to the food drive, donations are always welcomed at the Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre. To learn more about the local food bank, click here.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1