If you see firefighters out in your community, don鈥檛 be alarmed, as they鈥檙e most likely not fighting fires.

The annual Fire Department Food Bank Campaign is back for another year on Dec. 2 and Dec. 3 from 1 to 5 p.m. in Carr鈥檚 Landing and Oyama, Winfield and Okanagan Centre. Firefighters will be knocking on doors to collect both cash and food donations for the Lake Country Food Bank. Residents can also leave the donations on their doorsteps.

The food drive has been ongoing with the fire department for at least 15 years, said Lake Country fire chief Steve Windsor.

鈥淏ack in the day, the firefighters saw a need for the food bank, especially at Christmas time as (the fire department was considered to be a) larger group in the community,鈥� he said.

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However, Windsor said it has been getting difficult over the past few years to visit every home, as the district continues to grow. This year, firefighters will get a hand from Central Okanagan Search and Rescue members, he said.

鈥淎s the community gets bigger and bigger, we aren鈥檛 able to hit every house, but we bring in a huge quantity of food and cash,鈥� he said, adding the community continues to give its support.

And the Lake Country Food Bank is grateful for the items collected for its Christmas food hampers.

鈥淚t鈥檚 all those extras we could never buy or couldn鈥檛 afford and it鈥檚 a huge impact. Our numbers are going up dramatically at Christmas,鈥� said manager Joy Haxton. 鈥淭ypically we put out 160 hampers, but at Christmas, we鈥檒l (have) around 220.鈥�

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鈥�(Our clients) wouldn鈥檛 get all those extras if we didn鈥檛 have the food drive, because that鈥檚 where the actual food is coming from,鈥� Haxton said. 鈥淭hey bring in at least two months worth of food.鈥�

Canned meat, including ham, chicken, canned tuna, and salmon along with dried soup mixes, canned pasta, stews, chillies and cereals are a few items that the food bank needs.

The food bank also asks that donated food isn鈥檛 expired.

carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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