A front-end loader was needed to carry a large box full of donated groceries along with palettes of food to Lac La Biche’s Waskaysoo Food Bank on Friday morning.
The sight of the industrial equipment doing community grocery deliveries turned a few heads in the downtown area.
The delivery from the Lac La Biche AG Foods Abougouche Brothers grocery store helped to fill shelf space in the local food bank, housed at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre. The store and the food bank are about two blocks away from each other.
The delivery included a Christmastime food order for the food bank and a large box from the grocery store that was filled with items donated by residents and local businesses.
Tina Boucher, a family support coordinator at the friendship centre, assists with making food hampers for those in need. She said the food bank continues to see increased demand for service.
A similar bin at the Brittons Independent Grocery store in Lac La Biche has also helped to provide food for area residents in need of support. All of the donations are very much appreciated, said Boucher.
“It’s been busy, especially before Christmas,” she told Lakeland This Week, adding that local support continues to help with that demand.
Local donations
Along with the donations at the grocery stores, Boucher said the friendship centre recently received a donation of $2,500 worth of turkeys and ham from Lac La Biche’s Edcon Power Tongs. The friendship center also received contributions – including gift cards that allow the organization to purchase food directly – from other private individuals, businesses and organizations in the community for Christmas.
As the need for their services continues to grow throughout the year, food and financial donations are accepted at the Waskaysoo Food Bank all year round.