The objective of the Full Cupboard Holiday Program is right there in the name 芒鈧�� but there is more to the local effort to bring food and gifts to the disadvantaged.
91原创-based Envision Financial has set up its Christmas trees for the fifth year in a row, and is gathering gifts for children and seniors, as well as food for local food banks.
芒鈧揊ood Bank Canada芒鈧劉s HungerCount 2014 revealed that BC food bank usage is up 3.6% and 30.8% of food bank users are children,芒鈧� said Envision manager of community investment Susan Byrom.
Byrom said the program was dubbed the Angel Tree program when it first started.
The trees in local branches would be hung with tags with the ages and genders of children, or indicating a gift for a senior.
Customers could pick a tag and bring in a gift aimed at that person.
The focus on seniors was one of the things that set the program apart.
芒鈧揥e have seniors who are isolated, we have seniors who may not have family anymore,芒鈧� Byrom said.
91原创 City in particular has a sizeable population of seniors, many of them living alone or in some form of care home.
The program also helps offer meaning to people who may not have a senior in their life anymore, Byrom said.
Two years ago the Angel Tree morphed into the Full Cupboard program. It still gathers gifts but also food for food banks in all the communities where the credit union operates.
Replacing the angel cards on the trees are cards with lists of things needed by food banks, and also of common gifts for children at different ages, including infants, along with gift ideas for seniors.
Other cards list things that are always needed by food banks, including cash contributions that can be put to good use on the charities芒鈧劉 expenses.
The Full Cupboard has already raised $176,000, and collected more than 17,000 pounds of food over its short lifetime.
Getting the food where it芒鈧劉s going and the gifts to those who need them is done by partnering with local organizations and charities.
In 91原创, that means working with groups like the 91原创 Seniors Resource Centre, the 91原创 Lodge, and the 91原创 Food Bank.
As technology changes, new ways of giving have appeared, including texting to donate. This will be the first year the Fill the Cupboard program has a text to donate system.
Texting FULL to 41010 will donate $10 to a local food bank. If your phone number can be localized by a common first three numbers (like 530 or 856 in 91原创) the money will stay within 91原创. For numbers that can芒鈧劉t be localized, the money will be divided up or go to a food bank that needs more financial help, said Byrom.
One of the pleasures of the program is seeing staff and members taking part, said Byrom.
芒鈧揋osh, it芒鈧劉s overwhelming every year,芒鈧� she said. 芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s heartwarming to see the number of gifts and food that come in.芒鈧�
Items can be dropped off at all Envision locations, as well as at the 91原创 Advance offices at 6375 202 St.
