Grocery bags are being dropped off at every home in town starting today with the hope they will be filled in support of the Okotoks Food Bank.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is undertaking its annual community-wide food drive that will be held this Saturday.
Church volunteers will distribute donation bags to homes with instructions for donating non-perishable items. Donations will be picked up on Saturday, Sept. 21 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and delivered to the food bank.
The church has been conducting a food drive every September for the past decade.
Upwards of 500 church members take part in the food drive as families drop off the bags, collect the non-perishable donations and deliver them to the food bank.
Bente Yanota, executive director of the food bank, said last year the initiative collected 33,000 pounds of food, and she’s hoping with the addition of new communities, the drive will collect over 35,000 pounds this year.
“Your generous donations will help refill our shelves and get us ready for the holiday season ahead,” Yanota said.
If your house gets missed, you can drop off your bags to a grocery store near you or at the Okotoks Food Bank weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If doing so, you’re asked to avoid double-knotting the bags so they can be reused.
Those who prefer to make a monetary donation can do so online via credit card at okotoksfoodbank.ca.
