Christmas a busy season for Lethbridge’s Interfaith Food Bank, extend holiday hours

“During those hours, we will also have our thrift store open, which is normally open only during the weekdays. The thrift store will be open on Saturdays as well.”

The Second Door Thrift Store is a year-round shop that offers new and gently used items at reduced “garage sale pricing”.

“It’s an opportunity for us to move out things like hygiene products and garbage bags and of course anything seasonal that doesn’t sell at store level – they give it to us after the season is done and we hang on to it for a full year and you can pick up a lot of brand new items at really good prices at our thrift store. Of course, all the proceeds go right back into the food bank,” McIntyre said.

The Second Door Thrift Store will also be open on Saturdays leading up to the 25^th from 9 until 1.

CHRISTMAS HOPE CAMPAIGN

McIntyre said the Christmas Hope campaign has been a success so far this season.

The holiday initiative is a joint effort between Interfaith Food Bank, the Lethbridge Food Bank, the Salvation Army, Lethbridge Family Services Angel Tree and My City Care Shop of Wonders.

Each organization has been holding events and collecting food, toys and funds for families in need.

“We’re so grateful to have such good partners. Between our five agencies, we’re expecting to serve 2,000 adults and 4,000 children this Christmas and sharing that workload is definitely something that’s been a wonderful thing for us,” McIntyre told Lethbridge News Now.

Hampers filled with items have already started going out in the community. McIntyre said at Interfaith, over 300 hampers have been distributed and will continue to go out until December 20^th.

“We like to make sure families have everything they need for Christmas BEFORE Christmas,” she said.

“Also, toy distribution – any family that has registered at the food bank is getting matched up with a toy agency that’s going to make sure that their children have gifts for underneath the tree. So, depending on which agency our families are matched with will determine which dates they’re getting their toys.”

IMPORTANCE OF HELPING OUT

McIntyre said it’s heartwarming to see so many members of the community stepping up to help, especially during the holiday season.

“Christmas is such a special time of the year. It’s an opportunity for families to come together. Food is always the centre of almost every celebration,” she said.

“It’s a struggle for every family to make sure that everything is as perfect as that they’d like it to be at this time of year so you can just imagine how much harder it is for a family who is struggling financially. It’s a great opportunity to get into that spirit of giving and make sure that everyone has a chance to enjoy a merry Christmas.”

At Interfaith, McIntyre said they pre-plan for the Christmas season almost from the beginning of the year, noting they’ve been working with many volunteers to get their own hampers of food packed.

“We’re very fortunate this time of year [that] some people tend to think about the food banks, so we do get an outpouring of people who would like to help us in preparing and then of course distributing the hampers. Donations are coming in, we’d like to see more of course of both food and funds, but the spirit of Christmas is definitely helping here at Interfaith today.”

CRAFT SALE

For the first time ever, Interfaith will host a Christmas craft sale on Saturday, December 14. It will be held in the Co-op Community Kitchen from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

McIntyre said it’s an opportunity to showcase their programs and local vendors will be on hand selling hand-made goods.

“We are also going to be showcasing some of the items that we have prepared in our Food Recovery Program as well as with our Healthy Hobbies program. So, we’re encouraging people to come out, take a look at what your options are for some of those last-minute Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers and of course all those Christmas goodies that you like to put out on the table for treats for everybody.”

She added that the Interfaith Food Bank is “almost 100 percent reliant” on community support to build a successful Christmas season.

“Every bit of support that we receive this time of year is going to determine how much we’re able to help next year. So, we want to encourage people that it’s never too late to give,” she said.

Contributions can be made online, in the mail or by visiting Interfaith Food Bank at 1103 3 Avenue North in Lethbridge.

by Justin Goulet

Christmas a busy season for Lethbridge’s Interfaith Food Bank, extend holiday hours

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