The Salvation Army food bank is getting a boost thanks to Lloydminster’s public schools.
College Park, Bishop Lloyd and ES Laird teamed up to hold a food drive for the food bank, culminating in an assembly line of children from College Park to the church to deliver the food on Friday, September 25.
Kriston Cote, a grade 7 teacher at College Park, says they wanted to help after hearing about how bare the shelves had gotten.
“We saw the initial post in the paper,” Cote said. “We were kind of challenged by Bishop Lloyd and E.S. Laird to try to get as much food as we can over this week. This happens to be our Welcome Week, so we’ve had activities planned from Monday to Friday, and so we just decided to incorporate it into the week. Our students really stepped up and were bringing in food all the way from Monday all the way until [Friday].”
Shannon Weinberger, a community services worker with the Salvation Army, says the economic downturn has put a lot of stress on the food bank.
“There hasn’t been a slow time at all this year,” Weinberger said. “Normally, spring’s not too terribly bad, but it’s just been busy. [There have been] a lot of layoffs, a lot of cut hours. [If it] comes down to pay your gas bill or feed your family, the gas bill can’t wait, but there are other resources, thankfully, to help.”
Weinberger says she is grateful for the donation, and while the bank is not fully stocked, she says they have enough to last them for a while.
Anyone who still wishes to donate can bring non-perishable food items to the church between 9 a.m and 12 p.m Tuesday to Friday, or call (780) 875-9166 to arrange an alternate drop off time. The church can also be reached by email at Lisa_O’[email protected].