Everyone knows the Comox Valley Food Bank takes canned goods, but the public might now know it also accepts perishable food donations.
Fresh from the Heart — its newest food drive — encourages customers to purchase a little extra fruit, vegetables, meat, milk or eggs and donate to the food bank.
The initiative will help all Valley residents, regardless of income, have access to fresh food.
Emergency hampers contain three to five days of food for each person in the household, based on Canada’s Food Guide. Fresh food is important in meeting the nutritional needs of food bank clients, about 40 per cent of whom are children.
Fresh food donations can only be accepted at the CV Food Bank at 1755B 13th St. in Courtenay, Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to noon and Thursday until 1 p.m.
Fresh food donations cannot be accepted in grocery store collection bins because staff are not always able to collect on a daily basis.
Cash donations are also gratefully accepted, enabling staff to purchase items.
The mailing address is: Comox Valley Food Bank, PO Box 3028, Courtenay, B.C. V9N 5N3.
A tax receipt can be picked up at the office, or mailed in an enclosed self-addressed stamped envelope.
The local food bank has been assisting families for more than 28 years. It feeds more than 1,700 people monthly. About 640 of these are children.
Donated goods most appreciated during the holiday season are luxury items such as toiletries, peanut butter, coffee, sugar, condiments, jams, jellies and laundry products.
The food bank will be closed Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.