YES!! Chestermere has (and needs) a food bank, which has been in operation for almost seven years. Six of the current 16 dedicated volunteers are celebrating their 5 and 7 year anniversaries. Since inception we have seen an 800% increase in usage with the numbers growing each year. In 2012 alone, we assisted well over 500 people with much needed nourishment.
With this growth in demand, we will be forced to re-locate in the very near future so that we can serve our community in a much more efficient manner. On those occasions where we have excess inventory, our volunteers have stepped up and stored canned goods in their garages and frozen foods in their freezers. Our current location has served us well but the time has come where the food bank needs power, water, and storage room.
To that end, we are holding our first fundraising/food drive to be held on June 14 and 15. On Friday, the 14th, our Rich Man/Poor Man dinner will be held at the MPP room in the Chestermere Regional Recreation Centre. There will be a live band, full bar service, silent and live auctions among other fun events. Tickets are only $20 each and are available at Mo’s Liquor Store, M & M Meat Shop and the General Store. Will you be one of the Rich Men (or women) who will be catered to with white glove service all evening? It promises to be a lot of fun!!!
On Saturday, June 15th, we will have our food and cash drive at Safeway. Can we stuff that bus with enough food to see us through the next 5 months when the school food drives resume?
Mayor Matthews, along with Council members have cast their support for this venture and we hope we can count on our community and corporate Chestermere to do the same. For more information, e-mail us at crfb@shaw.ca or visit our website at www.chestermerefoodbank.ca. We look forward to pampering you on June 14th!
