Emergency Food Service
What is the EFS? It is essentially a Food
Bank supported by St. Johns'. The EFS is open Tuesdays and Fridays from
10 AM until noon, or such time as the daily maximum of 65 clients are
served. The EFS is staffed by about 35 to 40 volunteers. The church
provides the space and other services at no cost, so that every dollar
donated is spent providing goods for our clients. We give out primarily
non-perishable food items such as canned vegetables, pork and beans,
soups, macaroni and cheese, coffee, tea, powdered milk, rice, rolled
oats, tuna, salmon, and peanut butter.
We also have such items as laundry detergent,
hand soap, toilet paper, some toiletry items, and even candy, cookies,
fruit juice, and soda pop. We are unique in that instead of giving out
prepackaged handouts, we have our clients choose the items that they
need within reasonable limits. Volunteers staff this food bank Mondays
and Thursdays for stocking shelves, and Tuesdays and Fridays for giving
out the hampers.
Anyone wishing to help in either way
should contact the church office at (250) 383-7169.
Donations
of money or food are welcome. The greatest need is for items for the
“extras” shelf, such as crackers, canned fruit, packaged
cereals, sweet treats. Also there is a need for clean recycled plastic
tubs for peanut butter and laundry soap; useful sizes are 250 ml, 500
ml, and 750 ml .
The EFS greatly appreciates support
from local businesses, such as Save On
Foods and WalMart.
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