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Donations bags on doorsteps leads to more for food bank

Lake Country firefighters were aided by realtors who left bags for residents to fill with items and leave outside for pick-up.

Lake Country firefighters were able to get more donations for their annual food bank drive thanks to the work of a local realtor this year.

Over 20,000 items for the food bank, as well as $5,000 in cash, were donated to the food bank after firefighters went through the community picking up donations earlier this month in their annual food bank drive.

“It was fabulous,” said Lake Country Food Bank manager

Phyllis MacPherson.

“Everything went beautiful. This year is the best year ever.”

Lake Country firefighters were aided by the efforts of Kim Davies, a realtor at Royal LePage in Lake Country, who last year decided that it would be easier if residents left food bank items out in bags for firefighters to pick up. Davies dropped bags off at local homes, eliminating the need for the firefighters to knock on every door and explain themselves, increasing the overall yield.

“I knew they did a big initiative so I thought it would be great to partner with the firehall to see if I could help,” she said. “We got some fellow realtors and other volunteers together to help with the bag drop and it proved to be a great service to the firefighters. They got through the neighbourhoods and to more houses in less time,”

Davies knows the role that a food bank can play in people’s lives, especially around the holiday season. Ten years ago as a single mother to three children, she used the food bank to help support her family.

“If it wasn’t for the food bank we would have gone hungry,” she said. “Now that I am in a position in my life where I have some success and can support my family, it’s about giving back to the community.”

Food banks across the country are finding more and more demand as people look for ways to get by. The Lake Country food bank has over 600 clients with more people coming in all the time.

This year was the second year Davies has dropped bags off in advance of the firefighters drive. She hit more areas than the first year and is looking to increase the program more next Christmas season.

“I want to be able to compliment the firefighters and maybe help with the pick up as well,” she said. “Anything we can do to help the firefighters with their efforts to try and hit every person in the community. They can’t possible go to every single home in one evening.”

Meanwhile, demand continues at the local food bank where food continues to come in and go back out into the community.

MacPherson says she can use some help with fixing one of the coolers at the food bank which is on the fritz. If you can help call 250-766-0125.