Image Credit: Kent Simmonds/CFJC TV

By Dylana Kneeshaw

PUT BAGS OUT BY 9 A.M.

Rotary Spring Food Drive aims to stock up Kamloops Food Bank warehouse Saturday

Apr 25, 2025 | 3:35 PM

KAMLOOPS — Food banks across the country have been citing a startling increase in the number of people who need their services. Locally, the Kamloops Regional Food Hub is working to serve nine regional food banks, and more than 7,000 individuals.

The 34th bi-annual Rotary Spring Food Drive is set to take place this Saturday (April 26) and it’s coming at a time when warehouse shelves need to be filled.

Executive Director Bernadette Siracky says the food drive has become both a staple community event and a crucial supplier for the Kamloops Food Bank.

“We have been distributing more and more non-perishable product into the region, to the point where our shelves are pretty empty right now,” SIracky said. “So we really are looking forward to a fun day, a community event.”

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“So people bring their kids, they bring their families, they’re teaching people how to give back. I mean, the energy surrounding this day is really beautiful.”

Siracky says the Kamloops Food Bank has seen many people, including families, who are increasingly unable to stretch their dollars, forcing them to come into the food bank for the first time.

“When we go to the grocery store, there’s prices of items that are double what they were last year. And if your income has not doubled, you struggle,” notes Siracky.

More demand means more supply is needed. And warehouse lead, James Schnackenberg, says they’ve recently been forced to make more item substitutions to keep client hampers filled.

“This time is the first time that I’ve worked in the food bank that it’s been this empty. It’s pretty intense,” he said. “”I make non-perishable hampers for our clients. The bags have been getting a little smaller, and it’s been harder to kind of make up for that.”

However, the Kamloops Food Bank says support to make the food drive happen hasn’t wavered. The bi-annual event brings out hundreds of volunteers, and Rotarians to collect bags from streets throughout the city.

Non-perishable items in high demand include baby formula, rice, beans, soup, canned products, and more.

“We’re asking people to fill those (bags) up with non-perishable items that they have in their home,” Siracky said. “Things that you eat every day. Soup, KD (Kraft Dinner), baby food, pet food, we’ll happily give it out.”

Donation bags need to be placed outside by 9 a.m. Saturday (April 26) for Rotarians to pick up. And if your house is missed, Siracky said donations can be put into the drop-off bins at any Kamloops grocery store, or taken directly to the Food Bank at 181 Wilson Street.