For the past number of weeks, the annual Craig Bay Fall Food Drive has been underway! If you have visited the Beach Club lately, you have probably noticed the food donation boxes and may have dropped off a donation cheque for the Salvation Army. If you are new to Craig Bay, or don’t make it down to the Beach Club very often, then you may be wondering what this is all about…
So to help spread the word about this important campaign, I asked Penny Rutherford (Craig Bay Fall Food Drive Coordinator) a few questions to find out a little more about why Craig Bay has chosen to take this on, and how the food and cash donations that are collected from Craig Bay residents impact the Parksville community.
Thanks for taking the time to share more about the Fall Food Drive today!
Can you start with telling us why you personally decided to get involved with the Food Drive?
Actually, all of Craig Bay is involved in our Food Drive. As a resident who volunteers and helps on our Social Committee, I offered, along with several others, to help coordinate the ”one stop pick-up” for the annual food drive put on by our Parksville Volunteer Fire Department. I saw that this was a wonderful way for our community to really help The Salvation Army, who then helps those in the Oceanside area who need the help –especially at this time of the year.
How and when did the Food Drive get started at Craig Bay?
Eight years ago in November of that year, we were home when the Parksville Volunteer Fire Department came through our street blowing their sirens. Our doorbell rang and who should be there but “Flying Phil” from Parksville, who was asking for food and/or cash donations for our local Salvation Army food bank. We ran to our cupboard for some food and found some cash in our wallet to hand out. The next few years were the same. Then 4 years ago the Social Committee sent out a notice asking residents to bring their donation to the front door of our Beach Club. That started the” one stop drop” for the PVFD! The coordinator at that time connected with the PVFD to arrange a pick up time on the Sunday morning.
What happens to all the food donations as they are collected at the Beach Club?
Once the ”one stop drop” started, and was coordinated with the PVFD, the food drive committee started advertising in early October for donations to be brought to the office. One of our residents offered her garage for storage. The food drive team then picked up the donations as needed and took them to the storage place for weighing and sorting.
We started advertising the drive as our fundraiser for the year and for 2 months submitted reminders to our Friday email. We arranged with the Beach Club Coordinator to collect cash donations. We connected with Major Hamelin from The Salvation Army and invited him to our Sunday morning give-a-way to accept the cash and food donations.
Last year, we had the poster made to show our residents how their donations are building. This year we will have a large cheque made – one that may be used again – to showcase our donations on the Sunday give-a-way.
After the PVFD collects our food donations, the first stop they make is the weigh scales to note the weight of our food donations. The next stop is the Food Bank, where they will be greeted by the many volunteers who have come to help fill the shelves.
People often ask me why the cash donations are given to the Salvation Army ….what role does the Salvation Army play in the Food Drive?
The Salvation Army runs our local Parksville Food Bank and the Soup Kitchen. The PVFD have been doing this drive for years to help fill the shelves at the Food Bank.
The S.A. has to cover the costs of maintenance of the building as well as pay all the utilities that go along with having a large building with fridges and coolers. The Salvation Army handles all the intake of those who need the help with groceries.
Everyone who needs help is interviewed and then given a point system based on individual or family needs. Clients may then shop the shelves for items needed using their points as cash. The Salvation Army also runs our local Soup Kitchen, which feeds up to 125 people 4 days a week at lunch time.
You have met with Major Hamelin from the Salvation Army over the years to discuss the current needs in the community and how the food and cash donations impact people in need….can you share some of his comments?
Major Hamelin has shared with us the growing need for many in our Oceanside area who are not able to support themselves or their families, sometimes for the short term and sometimes for the long term. He has said that too many families are one paycheck away from being homeless.
The monies that are donated have often helped a person or family pay their rent for that one month – just to give them that helping hand up. Having the Food Bank give groceries to those in need allows those folks the opportunity to pay the rent, utilities and other needs.
Major Hamelin has seen an increase in the number of homeless in our community as well. The donations received help his organization to assess the need of those who ask for help – whether it be a meal, a bag of groceries, or a place to live.
The Pick-Up Day in November is always met with lots of anticipation at Craig Bay….can you share what happens that morning?
It is an exciting day for the Food Drive Team. We LOVE that our community is so very generous and being a part of this very large donation is thrilling! There is nothing like “giving back”!
We organize a team of residents with trucks or SUV to pick up the stored items at our storage place and bring them to the front door of the Beach Club. In the meantime, other team members are at the Beach Club, setting up tables, making coffee and putting out plates of goodies.
As the donations arrive from our storage place, we arrange the bags on tables to show off the donations to their best advantage. We like to make it look attractive. More residents start to arrive and the waiting for the sirens and flashing lights begins.
Once Major Hamelin and the PVFD arrive, we take pictures while I make sure I get the names of all who have arrived. If it is pouring, we go into the Conservatory for the presentation to the SA and Fire Dept. Otherwise, I ask for everyone’s attention, introduce the Major and the PVFD to our residents in attendance. Then I will give an overview of our drive and thank all those who have helped so much to make this so successful. Then I get quite emotional as I ask for a drumroll and share with everyone how much our food donations weigh and how much cash we have raised. The Major will then say a few words of gratitude before he leaves for his Sunday service.
How has the Food Drive evolved at Craig Bay since it started?
The Food Drive has evolved from being a house to house request from the PVFD for food/cash/toys on one weekend in November to a very large donation of cash and food in one spot on the last day at a set time. It has evolved from a personal donation to a community donation.
The amounts raised in just 3 years:
2015: Food donations – 2800 pounds! Cash donation – $4000
2016: Food donations – 1900 pounds! Cash donation – $5330
2017: Food donations – 2500 pounds!! Cash donation – $11,435.07
The Fall Food Drive is obviously a major annual campaign at Craig Bay. Why is this such an important ‘event’ / cause for the people of Craig Bay?
Craig Bay is generous all year round to other non- profit organizations. Many of us volunteer out time and talents to help organizations like Hospice, Beach Fest, SOS, Haven House, Forward House, ETRA and others.
The Salvation Army is personal to many who have been told by our parents and relatives, just how much The Salvation Army has helped those in need, whether it be during war times or peace times. This organization is truly one “for the people”.
The drive and generosity of our residents make a world of difference to many families – especially during the upcoming holiday season. Our support is truly appreciated by the Parksville Fire Department and its members and volunteers.
What else would you like us to know about the Fall Food Drive….any last words?
I think the Fall Food Drive has become very personal for many of us – we are grateful for what we have here in Craig Bay – and we are pleased to be able to
“Pay it Forward” !
