The Maple Ridge Lions Club donated $5,000 to the Food Bank of Maple Ridge.
Friends in Need Foodbank executive director Mary Robson met with the club on the evening of Tuesday, June 11, to accept the donation.
The donation came in response to Mr Robson's recent urgent appeal for donations from the public as the local food bank continues to see an increase in the number of people it helps every day.
Robson said the restaurant is currently open for three hours and serves about 100 customers a day.
“This year, the Maple Ridge Lions Club celebrates 80 years of humanitarian service in the community and around the world,” Robson said. “The club was founded in May 1944 and the Friends in Need Food Bank is one of the many charities the club supports.”
Friends in Need Foodbank has launched an eight-week campaign called “Feeding the Future: A Community Support Campaign”, through which Robson will share stories of people affected by the services the bank provides and highlight the importance of supporting the community.
Donations to food banks are typically at their lowest during the summer.
Donations will help purchase fresh produce and protein to ensure balanced meals, provide non-essential items like toiletries and hygiene products, and support operational costs to keep the food bank running efficiently.
According to Robson, 33% of registered customers are young people and children up to the age of 18, while 27% of customers are seniors aged 55 and over.
For more information about the Maple Ridge Lions Club, visit http://www.mapleridgelionsclub.org/
To donate, visit www.friendsneedfood.com/donate or mail a check to PO Box 393, Maple Ridge, BC, V2X 8K9, or donations can be dropped off at the warehouse at Unit 8, 22726 Dewdney Trunk Rd., Maple Ridge.
Anyone needing assistance can visit their website for more information or contact the food bank at 604-466-3663, extension 203.
