Thompson community centre fitness instructor Debra Piro is used to getting her Zumba dancers to stretch in all directions. And this week she’s asking for them to stretch into their cupboards and pockets.
For a second straight year, Piro is helping the community centre's Santa Baby Food Drive at Thompson to collect baby food, formula and toiletries, as well as cash, for the Richmond Food Bank.
“The food bank said so many young mothers don’t have food for Christmas and nobody gives baby food,” said Piro.
And so, during the week Thomspon staff will be offering select drop-in fitness classes (Richmond.ca/Thompson) for free to anyone who comes to Thompson with a food or cash donation.
Helping Piro has been volunteer Sandy Lopez, her sister-in-law and charitable “partner in crime.”
“This time of year, it’s expensive and it’s hard to support a young family, like if you’re single. You have to come up with those funds to support a baby. It can be an exhausting job as a parent and on top of it, not being able to afford things makes it more of a stress on families,” said Lopez.
The pair has even had the support of Maple Lane elementary students, who recently made a sizable donation to the food bank after hearing about the food drive.
Over at the food bank, its community liaison Alex Nixon said he’s thrilled to get some publicity for the much needed baby goods.
Nixon said diapers are the most pressing need for parents with infants and toddlers, considering their cost. Baby formula for the many mothers with infants, who cannot breast feed, is also in high demand.
Notably, the food bank serves about 500 children each week.
Nixon said the holiday season is when the food bank typically collects enough food and cash donations to last until next May. Presently, the shelves are nearing empty, said Nixon.
“We hope that changes with food drives,” said Nixon.
The winter months are also the time when the food bank is in high demand, because fresh produce becomes more expensive, as do utility bills.
“The people we serve are feeling those cost increases . . . It’s a time of year when, obviously, we hope to get a lot of donations. A lot more people come in for more food,” said Nixon.
The goal in December is to raise $200,000, which would amount to about one third of the food bank’s annual budget. Cash donations are particularly welcome because the bank is capable of buying in bulk and sourcing food from connections within the community. So, for every dollar one donates, Nixon says the bank can turn it into about $6 of groceries, based on regular retail prices.
The food bank receives no government funding, thus its members of the community, businesses and other non-profit groups that keep the food flowing in.
The food bank provides about 1,300 people with about 13,000 kilograms of groceries each week, said Nixon. It also helps an additional 800 people by supporting other community non-profit groups (including a school food program).
Donation over $20 are eligible for a tax receipt. Presently, Peterson real estate firm is matching all donations up to $10,000 total, until Dec. 31. Go online to CanadaHelps.org to donate. For more information on the Peterson drive and the food bank, see RichmondFoodBank.org.
