Food Drive Helps Yellowknife Families Prepare for the Holiday Season
In what has become an annual event, The Salvation Army in Yellowknife and a supermarket chain partnered to help families facing financial challenges in the weeks leading up to the Christmas season.
Community Comes Together to Donate Food
On Thanksgiving weekend, Salvation Army staff and volunteers sold 600 food hampers for $35 each at Lakeshore Co-op. Customers then donated them back to the organization.
The groceries had a retail value of approximately $21,000 and are expected to help supply The Salvation Army’s food bank for the next six weeks.
“This is a huge help for us right now,” says Major Tony Brushett, executive director of The Salvation Army in Yellowknife.
The hampers, which were filled with products provided by Lakeshore Co-op, included mostly canned and boxed goods. The Salvation Army added dairy products, bread, cheese and milk to provide clients with a more complete selection of groceries.
Rising Need for Food Assistance
This food drive comes at a much-needed time. Currently, The Salvation Army in Yellowknife is serving 400 to 450 families each month. According to Major Tony, local mine closures have led to layoffs in a region whose economy relies heavily on gold and diamond mining. As a result, many people who once earned high incomes are now struggling to make ends meet.
“Unfortunately, some of our previous donors are now recipients of the food bank,” Major Tony adds.
Preparing for Christmas
The drive also helps reduce the organization’s purchasing costs as it prepares to meet other community needs during the holiday season.
The Army’s Christmas programs provide food and toys for families. These services are costly and, considering the situation in Yellowknife, Major Tony believes companies that used to donate annually may not be able to do so this year.
“Here at The Salvation Army, we are not going to turn anybody away,” Major Tony says. “We will find a way to help everybody.”
Community Support Remains Essential
Community support will be essential in the next couple of months.
Major Tony urges those who can contribute financially to The Salvation Army to do so either through online donations or by visiting a Christmas kettle, which will begin appearing at locations across the city in mid-November.
Despite the high number of individuals currently accessing food assistance in the region, this year’s drive was the most successful ever. Major Tony sees this as a reflection of the community’s support no matter the situation.
“People in Yellowknife are extremely generous when it comes down to it every year,” Major Tony shares. “Typically, the folks up here are so kind that the needs are all met.”
By Juan Romero
