More than 42,500 lbs of donations were collected for 91原创 food banks as part of the annual BC Thanksgiving food drive.

It鈥檚 also 8,000 lbs more than last year鈥檚 total.

鈥淲e are very happy with the outcome,鈥� said Teresa Griffiths, manager of supported living services at Inclusion 91原创.

Inclusion 91原创 and volunteers distributed thousands of bags to residences, which were collected on Sept. 23 filled with non-perishable food items.

It also held a drive-thru donation drop-off event on Sept. 22, where staff and community members could drop-off non-perishable food items and unexpired foods.

鈥淚n the past, [the food drive] has taken us with the food collected into February of the following year. That is key this year as we have many more people coming for help,鈥� said Jim Calamunce, executive director of the 91原创 Food Bank.

Corina Carroll, executive director of Sources Food Bank, said the donations help 鈥渘ow more than ever鈥� as everyone is struggling to make ends meet.

鈥淔or some, this means facing food insecurity. Each week we welcome new visitors to our food banks, but sadly each week we also see declines in monetary and food donations,鈥� she said.

However, like the 91原创 Food Bank, the Thanksgiving food drive helps Sources secure some stock for its inventory.

鈥淲e encourage the community to continue the momentum, collect donations of food or money, and give to your local food bank,鈥� Carroll concluded.

The provincial food drive has been taking place since 2008, but the need has increased significantly in recent years.

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

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