The Estevan Salvation Army food bank is bracing itself for a bit of a struggle during the upcoming months between March and August.
Salvation Army Lieutenant Brian Bobolo said food donations at the end of 2014 were lower than it was in 2013, and as a result the food bank will likely be handing out hampers with some absent key items. He added food donations were down overall in 2014.
鈥淏y May or June we鈥檒l have to make a bit of a push,鈥� he said.
Usage of the food bank was on the rise last year despite the drop in donations, with the usual spike during the summer when many newcomers arrive to the area.
Interestingly enough, the trend continued into the fall. Bobolo said this might be linked to the drop in oil prices.
鈥淭here may be cutbacks with certain employers here and there, so people are using the food bank a little bit more,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e planning ahead for that as well.
He noted the support from the corporate community is still strong and that cash donations in 2014 reached $96,200, surpassing their goal of $95,000. Donations to the Kettle Campaign in 2014 amounted to $38,500, while other direct donations tallied up to $57,700. Both totals were slightly above their goals for the year.
Bobolo emphasized that 93 per cent of all the money that is donated goes to front line services, and added that efficiency in spending is a big part of how the Salvation Army operates.
鈥淲e make careful use of our equipment and supplies,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f we need more shelving units, rather than buy them we build them ourselves, or if we need a new refrigeration unit, we might wait until one is donated. We鈥檙e always looking to cut back because every dollar begins to add up and throughout the year, you can save a few thousand.鈥�
Char Seeman, co-chair of the Estevan Christmas Hamper Association, said 174 Christmas hampers were handed out in 2014. She said toy donations were down significantly last year and that the Estevan Fire Rescue Service spread awareness of the Angel Tree program, which collects toys for children to ensure they have presents to open on Christmas day.
鈥淭hank goodness for them, because there鈥檚 no way we would have had close to enough toys,鈥� she said.
