Rotary Community Food Bank Drive - 2022 Campaign
August 24, 2022
We are back! Mark your calendars for Thursday September 22, 2022!!
For close to 30 years the Rotary Clubs of Grande Prairie have been leading an annual campaign to collect food for the Grande Prairie and area Salvation Army Community Food Bank. What began as a brown paper bag in the weekend newspaper has grown into a door-to-door campaign, collecting donations of food and items necessary to daily living for those in need. In 2019, over 1,000 volunteers canvassed the entire city of Grande Prairie as well as nearby county residents collected and stored 47 tons of food within 3 hours, possibly making this the largest foodbank drive of its kind in Canada.
The Rotary Community Food Bank Drive remained committed to ensuring food was available to everyone in our community and in 2020 and 2021, launched a virtual drive to meet social distancing requirements and collected financial donations for those in need.
Sadly, the need to continues to increase. Although we are only ¾ of the way through 2022, the Salvation Army has given out nearly double the number of hampers as they did in 2021. They estimate close to half the supplies given were to feed children.
We need your help!
On Thursday September 22, 2022, we need volunteers to go door-to-door and collect donations for the Food Bank.
Watch your mailbox – mailers should arrive early September with times and ways to help.
Visit our website www.gpfooddrive.ca sign up your team, donate online or BOTH!
What do we need to register a team?
- Visit www.gpfooddrive.ca and sign up your team of 4-6 people. Invite friends, your children, co-workers, church group, youth group, sports team, or community members at large!
- The teams provide their own transportation and are dispatched with collection boxes and bags as well as signage to identify themselves. The routes take an average of 2 hours to complete. When the route is covered, the team returns to the warehouse to unload the food and enjoy a barbeque.
What should I donate when they come to my door?
- Healthy, non-perishable items. Canned protein (i.e. fish, legumes), canned fruits and vegetables, hearty soups, and school snacks.
- Unopened personal hygiene items (i.e. toothbrushes, feminine products). Tough decisions are made monthly between paying a bill or purchasing the necessary hygiene items.
- Baby items. i.e. non-perishable food, pampers and formula.
Please watch the expiry dates.
Monetary donations:
-The online store is open! Visit www.gpfooddrive.ca have some fun “shopping” and donate funds to the Food Bank! Your donation provides the opportunity to purchase high need items. Tax receipts are available.
Help Us Spread the Word
Visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gpfooddrive. Like our page, share our posts, help us grow our online community.
Lori Pollock
Swan City Rotary
780-814-9988
Captain Peter Kim
The Salvation Army
780-933-8013