LETHBRIDGE – Lethbridge transit buses were parked outside of both Save-On-Foods locations in the city Tuesday, ready to be packed full of donated goods.
Volunteer coordinator for the Lethbridge food bank, Catherine Stewart, said by 10 A.M. over 300 bags of food had made their way onto the bus.
“I hope we stuff this bus to the point that we have to start filling our vehicles,” said Stewart.
With the holiday season underway, Stewart hopes shoppers take the chance to donate while crossing things off their Christmas lists.
“A lot of people are really busy in the holiday season and forget there are people in need.”
Premade food hampers were available for purchase inside the grocery store, but Stewart said to keep in mind the items food banks need every month of the year.
“We need beans, canned meat like tuna, ichiban noodles, soup, canned vegetables, canned fruit, cereal, we have a huge need for cereal,” said Stewart.
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Organizers say Stuff a Bus is great for collecting staple items like peanut butter and pasta, but cash donations can help get more food because the organization is able to buy in bulk.
“With cash, we save a lot of money because we buy in pallets rather than one can at a time,” said Stewart.
She also stressed that many people who access the food bank are everyday citizens who have fallen onto bad luck.
“We have all kinds of people, people who have big trucks or people who have nice homes, but then all of a sudden the economy dropped and they need help and we are there for a short term to get them back on their feet.”
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