“Food Bank: Don’t go hungry. We care. We have an emergency food supply.”
This ad appeared in the Summerland Bulletin in March of 1984. By the end of that month seven requests had been received and seven hampers had been delivered.
Thus began the Summerland Food Bank.
A 30-year anniversary tea was held at the Summerland United Church Hall on Saturday, in order to honour all those who have been involved over the years.
“It is because of the vision, the energy, the willingness and the grace to respond to the fundamental needs of their neighbours for 30 years that we celebrate today,” said Sharon O’Shaughnessy as she addressed the room full of volunteers.
O’Shaughnessy’s parents were the founding members of the organization. She presented a slide show featuring the history of the Food Bank. She also shared entries from her mother’s journals and minutes from 25 years of Food Bank meetings.
Included in the celebration were several presentations.
Roch Fortin presented a cheque to John Bubb, from the Summerland Rotary Club, in the amount of $10,000. The money will be used to help build a handicap accessible washroom with showers and a laundry room for the Resource Centre, which is an extension of the Food Bank.
Bubb was also presented with $245.75 from nine-year-old Fawn Hollas. She heard about the need for the washroom, so started a fundraising campaign at her school, called Stuffies for Showers. Children donated their stuffed toys and they were then resold for a small price.
Several students also from Ms. Thorpe’s class at the Trout Creek School made a banner for the anniversary celebration.
Bubb thanked the District of Summerland, Mayor and Council as well as the Rotary Club, the Summerland United Church, The Summerland I.G.A and The Summerland Singers and Players. He also thanked the event committee for putting on the tea, the United Church Women’s group for providing the refreshments and baker Mike Monaghan for donating the cakes.
Most importantly he thanked all the volunteers in attendance, saying,
“This event today is to offer our sincere, heartfelt thanks for your dedication over the 30 years that our food bank has operated.”
The Summerland Food Bank has the ability to receive financial donations in many forms, including secure online donations.