Food bank drive to try meet growing demand

Demand for Christmas hampers from the Central Okanagan Food Bank is expected to be about 30 per cent higher than last year.

In October alone the food bank served 5,500 in Kelowna and West Kelowna including about 1,000 children.

Demand has soared by 40 per cent overall since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, as families and individuals struggled on tighter budgets.

The food bank provided 1,800 hampers to Kelowna and West Kelowna residents last year and expects to hand out 2,500 hundred this holiday season.

The most in demand items are:

Mac & Cheese

Chunky Soup

Pasta Sauce

Pasta

Rice

Healthy Cereal

Peanut Butter

Canned Fish

Canned Fruit

Canned Soup

Canned Veggies

Diapers (Size 1-4)

Baby Food

Boost

Save On Foods is doing another food drive this Saturday between 10 am-2 pm at the flagship store in Orchard Plaza.

“To meet demand, we need volunteers, non-perishable donations and monetary donations. Because of our buying power we can make a monetary donation go three times further.” Trevor Moss Central Okanagan Food Bank CEO said.

At any point at the tills of any Save On people can also make cash donations.