Feed The Need

(Page 3)

By Todd Curran

Although more families than ever needed to use the Oilfields Food Bank services, the organization had a banner year for donations.
“We gave out 347 hampers to 642 adults and 290 children this year,” says Ida Wegelin of the Oilfields Food Bank. “Twenty-eight new clients show the increasing need for what we do.”
Forty volunteers rallied to fill Christmas hampers for 102 families in need. “We owe a big Thank You to all the volunteers and donors who contributed food, money, gifts and time to the success of the Food Bank,” Ida says. “Volunteerism has remained strong over Christmas and throughout the rest of the year.”
Receiving more support from the community at large, Ida highlights that 2010 food donations are the highest they've ever been. “The Fire Department pickup was really good,” she says. “There was more participation this year but we can always use donations because it's a year-round project and usage is up. We don't just operate at Christmas time.”
The new GIFTS program launched by Suzan Nagel of FCSS Black Diamond and Nyree Bond of the Salvation Army of the Foothills based in High River also saw success over the holiday season. Gifts collected in Oilfields area were sent to High River for sorting and packaging, along with money donated to purchase gifts needed to fill the bags. “This is the first year doing this and it went really well,” says Ida. “We picked up the gift bags in High River and put them with the food hampers for our Diamond Valley clients.”
The Oilfields Food Bank assists clients of all ages and is open every Tuesday afternoon from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm for people to pick up hampers. Their annual AGM is being held on January 25th at 3:00 pm in the United Church on Royal Avenue in Turner Valley. Anyone interested in participating or learning more about the Food Bank is welcome to attend.
Call Ida at 403-938-7713 for more information.