Food bank receives much needed help

Times Reporter

 

The truckwagon was a new addition to this year’s Heritage Days. EnCana partnered with the World Professional Chuckwagon Association, WPCA, for the ‘Race against Hunger.’

The truckwagon was seen going around the grounds collecting non-perishable food items for the Wheatland County Food Bank. 

“We know that the food bank usually struggles with donations this time of the year,” said Darci-Jane Mcaulay from EnCana. The corporation wanted to engage the community while giving back to the community. Food banks have their lowest numbers of the year during the summer, when many people forget there are still others in need. Even during Christmas in recent years many food banks in the province have seen the number of donations drop. The food bank has had a steady amount of people in need, but as always at this time of year the amount of food for the hampers is at a low. 

“We still have the high volume of hampers going out,” said Brenda Flowers, vice president of the Wheatland Food Bank. 

The truckwagon was a Dodge truck converted to natural gas, with a tarp over the back. This was the first time EnCana and WPCA have partnered to help the less fortunate, but hopefully it will not be the last. 

“We hope it will continue, we think it’s a great initiative and we really appreciate everybody that participated in it,” said Mcaulay. 

Mcaulay estimates the “Race against Hunger’ brought in about 250lbs of food and $1,500 in donations.

“Anything is great and we’re grateful, but we still have a demand for the hampers. But it was great to get that donation of cash because we can put it to meat or stuff other than the dry foods and stuff,” said Flowers.

Because the food bank only accepts non-perishable food donations they rely on cash donations to buy meat, milk and other perishable necessities. 

“It’s (Strathmore) the end of the program for this year but we’re looking into running it again next year,” said Mcaulay.  

The truckwagon went to Drumheller, Ponoka, Grand Prairie, Calgary and Strathmore and raised approximately $21,000 in total.