Inclusion 91原创 and community members are helping to fill hungry tummies this Thanksgiving through its sixth annual food drive.

On Friday, Sept. 22, Inclusion 91原创 hosted is drive-thru donation drop-off event at its main office. People could drop off non-perishable food items and unexpired foods, and all donors at the drive-thru were entered into a raffle draw for prizes.

鈥淥ur goal is to fill a van or build a wall of food. The response has been fantastic,鈥� said Teresa Griffiths, manager of supported living services at Inclusion 91原创.

By noon, there were already enough donations to fill the a van.

Last week, staff and volunteers collected food at Inclusion 91原创 locations. They also dropped bags off at homes in some neighbourhoods so the public could fill them and have them picked up as part of the B.C. Thanksgiving Food Drive on Saturday, Sept. 23.

All donations were taken to the main collection point on Saturday.

鈥淲e are very happy with the outcome,鈥� Griffiths said, noting last year was better but knows people are struggling with inflation rates right now.

Despite that, Griffiths was happy they could still fill their van with donations, and to see people support those in need in the community.

The provincial food drive has been taking place since 2008, but the need has increased significantly in recent years. Food bank visits have risen 31 per cent and continue to go up. As well, children account for one in three food bank users and the number of seniors needing help from food banks has risen by 20 per cent in the past two years.

Giffiths said Inclusion 91原创 is also making plans for a toy drive in early December.

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