The Sylvan Lake and District Lion’s Club with the help of Sylvan Lake residents made an impressive donation to the food bank.
The annual Restock the Shelves event was held May 4-5 at the three grocery stores in Sylvan Lake to collect food and monetary donations to the charitable organization.
According to Ted Fitzgerald, the Lion who organized the fundraiser, said it brought in between 50 and 60 large boxes of food.
“We don’t know the exact amount or weight, but I know we brought in between 50-60 large banana boxes stuffed full,” said Fitzgerald.
In total, the boxes filled the back of two-and-a-half half tonne trucks.
It took the volunteers at the Sylvan Lake Food Bank about two hours to organize and put away all the donations.
Over the course of two days the fundraiser also collected cash, cheques and gift cards for the Food Bank.
In total $2,558 was donated to the food bank.
Cash donations to the food bank go a long way to helping those in need. Representatives are able to nearly double the amount of food purchased with the funds as many grocery stores give discounts to food banks.
“I want to thank everyone who helped out, we did a really bang up job,” said Fitzgerald giving his thanks to the club members as well as the public.
Fitzgerald said he was particularly thankful for all the work his fellow club members did in planning and volunteering over the weekend.
He said they were all willing to help, and were available to do whatever was needed at the time, all he had to do was ask.
Before the fundraiser the shelves at the Sylvan Lake Food Bank were pretty bare. Afterwards, food bank volunteer Pam Towers said they shelves are full to bursting.
“I can’t say just how grateful I am,” said Towers. “This will really help a lot of people.”
The shelving units used throughout the weekend at the grocery stores actually came from the food bank, and Towers said they will never be the same again.
“I should have numbered them when we took them out, because now they don’t fit back properly,” she said.
Towers said she can always count on the generosity of the people in Sylvan Lake, as they always come through in times of need.
She said she is very appreciative of the Sylvan Lake and District Lion’s Club for putting it together and doing the work to help when the shelves are low.
“The word I use over and over is overwhelming, because that is what it is,” said Towers. “The people in this town are just so giving.
“We hear so much bad news, and then we get something like the Lion’s Club coming in and doing all this work, so that we can give to others who don’t have what we have.”
megan.roth@sylvanlakenews.com
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