Cindy Quinton, owner of Cindy's Independent Grocer in Melfort presents $3,000 in gift cards to the Melfort Food Bank. (Facebook/Melfort Food Bank)

By Angie Rolheiser

COVID-19 pandemic

Community donations help to fill the shelves at the Melfort Food Bank

Apr 14, 2020 | 11:54 AM

The community has answered a plea for donations made by the Melfort Food Bank.

Supplies were getting low as more families access the food bank while being out of work during the COVID-19 outbreak in Saskatchewan.

Secretary Ellen Zuck said they had a successful food drive last Wednesday and saw significant cash donations as well.

“Once we put out the call that we needed some help because of this pandemic, the response has been phenomenal,” Zuck said. “Melfort is a great place for that. If somebody needs help and you’re in Melfort, Melfort helps.”

The Prairie North Coop made a significant donation of a truckload of 15 to 20 pound grade turkeys during the food drive.

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There was also a generous donation brought in of 50 pounds of ground beef.

Over the past two weeks, cash donations have been coming in that include $3,000 in gift cards from Cindy’s Indepedent Grocer, $2,500 from the Melfort Rotary Club, $1,000 from Fedusiak Funeral Chapel, $500 from Melfort and Unit Collegiate staff, $200 from Denise and Denis Roespies, $200 from the Meskanaw-Ethelton 4H Beef Club, and $100 from Dress Well with Gisele.

“We aren’t an organization that typically puts it out there that we need help because we are pretty self-sustaining,” Zuck said.

However, along with their regular clients coming for hampers last Thursday, they saw many new faces as well.

“It’s good that people are utilizing the food bank but it’s sad that they have to, but that is what we are there for,” Zuck said. “I’d say about 30 to 40 per cent were new people that we saw on Thursday.”

The Food Bank will give out emergency hampers on May 7, and will take calls to fill those orders the day before.

“We will give emergency hampers at anytime if someone is in need. Please call because we don’t want people to be out of food,” Zuck said.

Volunteers are always on hand on Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for item and cash donations. The food bank will be open to the public again on May 21.

“Thanks to everyone for their support. The call went out and people responded and it was amazing to see.” she said.

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser