Target Hunger collected food donations on behalf of the Interfaith and Lethbridge Food Banks on Satuday. June 11, 2022. (Photo: LNN)

By Drew Stremick

Lethbridge residents show they care during Target Hunger

Jun 12, 2022 | 2:36 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Residents around Lethbridge received yellow plastic donation bags last week for Target Hunger, a food drive aimed at helping the Lethbridge and Interfaith Food Banks.

Volunteers took to the 250 routes around Lethbridge on Saturday, June 11, collecting bags of donations to try and reach the goal of 50,000 lbs of donations. As of Sunday morning the unofficial total had reached more than 60,000 lbs of food donated, which will be split evenly between the two food banks.

“…the community is so vital…” – Emily Beilby

Emily Beilby with the Lethbridge Food Bank (LFB) says they have lots of volunteers helping with the Target Hunger event.

“We have about 40 volunteers here today,” said Beilby. “We have people collecting, then we have our sorting volunteers, and the route volunteers. We have nearly 250 [collection] routes spread between us and the Interfaith Food Bank.”

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Cars were lined up around the corner of the LFB full of the yellow plastic donation bags, and the volunteers were quick to unload and fill bins on pallets so they could be moved inside.

Volunteers unload donations at the Lethbridge Food Bank, June 11, 2022 (Photo: LNN)

In 2021, Target Hunger had a goal of collecting 50,000 lbs of food items which would be evenly split between the LFB and the Interfaith Food Bank. This year, Target Hungers goal is 100,000 lbs of food items (50,000 lbs per food bank) or a little more than one item per resident here in the city.

Beilby says she wishes that food banks weren’t necessary but the reality is they play a crucial role in our community.

“We’re well established, but there are so many different food items that we still we need so much more of,” Beilby said. “Over the last two years, the price of groceries have gone up. The food we need to give out to our families in the community is so vital and so crucial. I’d love to think that food banks weren’t needed, but they are so crucial and they’re just a really key point in our community.”

Beilby says one thing that the LFB is trying to do is help individuals do more with the food they receive.

“One of our key kind of ethos is to try and promote to our clients, to be able to actually learn to cook at home as well, rather than just relying on quick, convenient snack food. We want foods that can still be taken home and cooked.” Beilby continued, “Something myself and one of my colleagues are going to start putting together maybe some some basic recipe cards for people.”

Vehicles were lined up around the block as donations were dropped off at the Lethbridge Food Bank, June 11, 2022. (Photo: LNN)

Beilby mentioned the LFB also hands out “snack packs” to vulnerable members of the community.

“We also serve some of the the homeless community,” said Beilby. “So we have to have resources available because they can’t cook and we have snack packs to try and give out to them because we understand that, unfortunately, they’re literally with their hands.”

Once the final total is released Lethbridge News Now will provide an update.