Volunteers at the Rotary Fall Food Drive (Image Credit: Kamloops Food Bank / Facebook)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

rotary fall food drive

Rotary Fall Food Drive stocks shelves of Kamloops Food Bank with 57,000 lbs of donations

Sep 19, 2020 | 3:27 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Food Bank is feeling the community’s support today, after a successful Rotary Fall Food Drive.

Food bank executive director Bernadette Siracky says volunteers and Rotarians gathered 57,000 lbs of food donations this morning (Sept. 19), which is a near record for the fall event.

“The last time we saw those kind of numbers in the fall was 2012,” Siracky notes, “So 57,000 lbs, literally hundreds of volunteers, and rain or shine, Rotarians were driving up with vehicles bursting at the seams (with donations).”

The drop-off, and sorting stations at the food bank were spread out to adhere to COVID-19 protocols. Family groups of 4-5 people were assigned to each sorting pod, with mask and gloves used throughout the day.

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“There was a lot of laughter, camaraderie, and there was community that was shown at this event like never before,” says Siracky, “So thank you Rotarians, thank you to the folks that helped us sort this product. We are set to serve what we anticipate to be an increasing number of people in our community that are going to need our service into the fall.”

On top of food donations, Siracky says the bi-annual event also brought in more funds than expected for the non-profit organization.

“We’ve received today alone in cash donations, cheques coming in bags, online, and our text-to-donate – over $2,000,” she explains, “Which is honestly incredible. We didn’t expect really any cash donations today so that has been an added bonus to the day for us.”

If bags were missed, Siracky says bags will still be accepted at the food bank donation bins found in every grocery store in the city.

“If your bag was missed, we truly apologize. When you’re dealing with every street in town and hundreds of volunteers, sometimes a bag does get missed, but please know we appreciate that donation.”

Donors can also contribute monetarily over text by messaging “food bank” to 45678, or they can go online to www.kamloopsfoodbank.org.