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Stephanie and Keith, two of the hundreds of people helping to keep the Richmond Food Bank up and running.
Photo by Chung Chow
Richmond bands together to feed our hungry
Published 10:51 PST, Thu January 4, 2018
Alex Nixon is grateful.
“We’ve been able to help more and more people
this year,” he says.
The communications manager for the Richmond
Food Bank Society says it’s all thanks to the support of our community through
donations of money, non-perishable food and time as volunteers. The food bank
now helps more than 1,500 people each week.
“Because of the support of our community, we’ve
also been able to expand our school meals program, over the past year. We’ve
gone from three programs to nine meal programs for breakfasts or lunches,”
Nixon says.
“My experience has been that people from all
different backgrounds, faith traditions and different cultures all come
together in Richmond to help people in need in our community. I think it just
goes to show what a very generous and caring community we live in.”
Nixon says Richmondites find many different
ways to help.
“I’ve seen schools do food drives and
individuals ask for donations at their Christmas or birthday parties. People
who grow food in their back yard, donate it. We’re lucky to live in such a
thoughtful and caring community. We really are.”
And the giving continues. The Christmas Eve
Steveston Santa Claus Parade garnered $2,100 and a van-load of food in
donations for the Richmond Food Bank.
What does Nixon want in 2018? “I hope that we
can keep helping one another. I hope that the community continues to support
our neighbours in need and continues to donate food and money to ensure that we’re
able to keep providing nutritious groceries to the people we serve.”
And what is Nixon’s wish list for the future?
“Well, I guess, setting aside peace and
goodwill amongst folk, obviously high quality non-perishable food items and
money that allows us to purchase what we need, when we need it, including milk
and fresh vegetables.”
On Nixon’s big wish list, he’d love to show
people around the food bank, give them a tour, show them how their support
helps neighbours in need, and how they’re able to help so many.
“If you want a tour, call or e-mail me. We
can set up a time when they can stop by and I can show them around.”
Nixon’s suggestion offers the people of
Richmond a chance to see where their donations go and how they help. It also
offers people a chance to see how volunteering can make a difference.
“It’s really wonderful to work with a group
of volunteers. We have 230 volunteers who care, who are here to help, who are
willing to help out any way they can. It’s such a joy to work with them.”
With only a paid staff of seven, “It’s really
because of our volunteers that we’re able to help so many,” he says.
“It’s really heart-warming to get up each day
and come to work at a place where so many people care.”
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