Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Jill Sperling

COVID-19

Community finds unique ways to support Kamloops Food Bank during COVID-19

Apr 15, 2020 | 4:42 PM

KAMLOOPS — When the COVID-19 pandemic began, donations to the Kamloops Food Bank dropped off, but the needs of the community did not.

As time has gone on, businesses and individuals have come up with some unique ideas to help this essential service.

Those ideas have gone a long way to help the food bank as it strives to help everyone who is struggling to put food on the table, but the number of those in need is growing.

“It’s not just here, it’s not just our province, but across Canada the need for food banks is increasing dramatically, and it’s a very different type of reason that people are needing to come to the food bank,” said Kamloops Food Bank Executive Director Bernadette Siracky.

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When the pandemic was first declared, stores struggled to keep their shelves stocked, and so did the food bank.

“Things have settled out a little bit with the supply chain,” Siracky said. “We’re able to purchase again, but our need is definitely increasing.”

People have been reaching out to help the food bank.

Because of group size restrictions and social distancing rules, volunteer positions are limited. However, people have become creative in their efforts to provide financially.

“They are doing everything from selling their artwork and selling t-shirts and selling music,” Siracky said.

Local author Sue Mark has written and illustrated a children’s book titled Safe at Home. Proceeds from the sales of her first printing were donated to the food bank.

“I gave it all to the food bank just as a starting point,” she said. “I’ve got my second run now sold out and I’m just printing my third run and so I’m kind of deciding, I want to share the proceeds with as many COVID relief charities as I can.”

In addition to helping the food bank, Mark saw a need to provide an activity and timely message for children at home.

“Basically, this is looking at this as kind of an adventure and that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and it’s not forever,” Mark said.

Local photographers have also found a unique way to help, taking photos from a distance for a donation to the food bank.

“We’ve been operating all over town,” said Samantha Knox, who has teamed up with Peggy Knaak of Sunbeams and Freckles Photography. “I mostly cover Sahali and Aberdeen for my photos. I come over and take photos from the edge of a driveway, making sure we maintain a safe distance and families get to enjoy an image and a sense of memories of this situation that we’re in right now during this COVID time.”

Knox and Knaak have raised thousands of dollars for the food bank through The Front Steps Project.

“It’s been amazing, we’ve had over 160 families involved, I think close to 170 now and we’ve raised over $5,000,” Knaak said. “That’s been amazing. I thought when we started maybe a few friends would be interested and the response was absolutely overwhelming.”

The food bank is still in need of more support, but the donations are helping and food bank clients are appreciative.

“They are so grateful to this community,” Siracky said. “And I always talk about how we’re supported by the broader community and our clients absolutely know that they are valued and taken care of by this community.”