听 听 听 听 听 听 This year, the Carlyle & District Food Bank provided a helping hand to clients from throughout this corner of Saskatchewan - an area of 3,200 square kilometres. This Christmas, the food bank sent out 117 hampers.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲e serve a large area,鈥� says food bank Chairperson Theresa Leudtke. 鈥� We provide hampers once a month to families and individuals needing some assistance in the Carlyle, Arcola, Manor, Redvers, Stoughton, Kisbey, Whitebear and Wawota areas. And whether we receive contributions of cash, food or volunteer labour, it all helps us to give a helping hand to our clients.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淭his year, from January 1st听 until the end of October, we distributed 466 hampers,鈥� says Luedtke. 鈥淎nd in November, we sent out 63 hampers. For Christmas, 117 hampers went out.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淭hroughout the year, we average at least 50 hampers a month,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hose hampers support over 200 people and more than half of those people are under the age of 18.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 The contents of a regular - not Christmas - hamper is valued at about $75 and is estimated to last 10 days.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲e strive to keep nutrition a top priority,鈥� says Luedtke. 鈥淯susally, we provide eggs, bread, milk, apples, potatoes, onions, quick oatmeal, peanut butter, margarine and meat - such as hamburger. We also include dry and canned goods.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 Leudtke and her fellow volunteers at the Carlyle & District Food Bank say that they are grateful for the support the food bank has received throughout 2017.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淥nce a month, we invite organizations and groups to help fill hampers before they're picked up the following morning,鈥� she says. 鈥淟ocal service groups, churches and schools have organized food drives and the food bank greatly appreciates the donations and support.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 And even though the 2017 Christmas hampers have been delivered, Leudtke says: 鈥淭he need is ongoing and I'd like to add that it's not too late to volunteer to pack hampers in 2018 or to donate to the Carlyle & District Food Bank. Cash donations are tax-deductible and are used to buy perishable items, such as eggs, milk and fresh produce. And this year, until December 31, Sask. Potash Corp. will match cash donations made to food banks throuout the province.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淗owever, most of all, I'd like to thank everyone from our communities who supported the Food Bank this year,鈥� she says.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淎nd on behalf of all of us here at the Carlyle & District Food Bank, I'd like to wish everyone a blessed holiday season and a prosperous New Year.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 For more information or to make a donation, contact Theresa Luedtke at (306)-577-8928 or Carlyle & District Food Bank, Box 356, Carlyle, Sask. S0C 0R0.
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听听听听听听听听听听听 Most needed food items for the Carlyle & District Food Bank:
- Pasta (canned or dry) and pasta sauces
- Canned and frozen meats and fish
- Meat alternatives (peanut butter, soy, assorted nuts)
- Canned goods (beans, soups, and stews)
- Dairy (canned and powdered milk)
- Canned vegetables and fruit
- Whole grain cereals
*Cash donations to the Food Bank allow volunteers to purchase what they need and also purchase fresh products for pick up. Until Dec. 31, 2017, Sask. Potash Corp. will match monetary contributions made to food banks within Saskatchewan. All cash donations to the Carlyle & District Food Bank are tax-deductible.
