Image Credit: Salvation Army Food Bank
January 12, 2016 - 1:00 PM
VERNON - It was a record year for the Salvation Army in Vernon in more ways than one.
This year’s annual food bank fundraising drive surpassed all records set during the Salvation Army’s past 110 years in Vernon, Capt. Jean-Curtis Plante says in a media release. Donations reached nearly $458,000 during the Christmas Hope Campaign, breaking the previous record, set in 2011, by more than $59,000.
“We are extremely grateful,” Plante says. “We have surpassed a number of milestones this year thanks to the incredible support of our volunteers and an exceptionally generous community spirit.”
This year the demand at the Community Food Bank was the highest on record as well. A total of 859 Christmas hampers were given out to 1,691 people, including many families. The Salvation Army recorded 602 children under 12,206 teens between 13 and 18 years old, and 883 adults were helped in all.
Volunteers gave 143 hours of their time interviewing each applicant to ensure those in need were matched with a sponsor and hamper. A total of $74,790 in Christmas Hampers was given away to those in need this Christmas season through the support of many local businesses.
Food donations also shattered all-time records over the holiday season. Kicking off the Christmas efforts was the 38th annual Real Estate Food Drive which amassed 33,126 pounds of donated food with 89 cars and drivers donating their time.
By the end of December, the Food Bank had processed 80,893 pounds in food, nearly doubling the generosity in years past, Plante says, adding with the highest demand for assistance ever recorded in Vernon at the local Food Bank, the community matched the need with a ‘beautiful giving spirit’.
“This has left the food bank in a very positive and healthy position to support those in need in 2016,” Plante says. “We want to say thank you to every individual and business that gave time, financial donations or food supplies. It’s this type of community compassion that makes Vernon such a wonderful city to call home.”
To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2016