A backpack filled to the brim with healthy foods 鈥� that is how two local charities will help put food on the table for families in need this summer.

Aldergrove Rotary Club鈥檚 Starfish coordinator Charlie Fox said he is 鈥渄elighted鈥� to announce his group鈥檚 new partnership with 91原创 Meals on Wheels.

鈥淔or the past six and a half years, since the Aldergrove Rotary Starfish Program started, our summer initiative has been to provide families with grocery gift cards,鈥� Fox said.

But the ability to offer the kids and their families a backpacks full of food is 鈥渕uch better,鈥� said the retired school principal.

And, Meals on Wheels will be assisting with the packing of those backpacks during the upcoming summer months 鈥� picking up on the duties performed by student volunteers during the school year.

The local Starfish program has distributed 13,000 backpacks since its inception, making a 鈥渉uge鈥� difference in these students鈥� lives, Fox continued.

鈥淭hese backpacks are always well-received by families who are struggling to make ends meet.鈥�

And for the first time, Aldergrove鈥檚 Starfish program will be expanded throughout the summer months.

Beginning June 30 and carrying on through Sept. 2, families participating in the Rotary Starfish program will be eligible to pick up a weekly backpack every Friday afternoon.

The whole idea is for underprivileged kids to have 鈥渨eekend food鈥� year round, said Aldergrove Rotary鈥檚 public relations coordinator Pauline Buck.

鈥淪ome of these kids don鈥檛 have any options for food on the weekends,鈥� she added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a struggle for some families.鈥�

Both Fox and Buck emphasized that the need for the Starfish program just keeps expanding everywhere, including in communities such as Aldergrove.

鈥淎s our community recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to grow, the need [here] will continue to increase,鈥� Fox said.

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Rotary and Meals on Wheels are ramping up for their new summer initiative, but more help is always welcome and appreciated, he noted.

鈥淲e are always looking for more people to volunteer their time.鈥�

To volunteer, people can go online to: https://starfishpack.com/aldergrove/ or call Fox at 604-340-9421鈥�.

The program is solely funded by local groups and individuals in the Aldergrove community.

Donations towards the program can be made

laurice.gomes@aldergrovestar.com
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