A successful fundraiser means the Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes Food Bank can provide a large amount of food and cover the cost of more staff. (Loaves and Fishes/Facebook)

By Spencer Sterritt

generous giving

More than $60K raised for Nanaimo food bank after generous family matches donations

Jun 7, 2020 | 7:44 AM

NANAIMO — A generous Nanaimo family has reached their goal in matching donations for the Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes Food Bank.

They offered at the beginning of May to match donations up to $25,000 for the month.

Nearly $61,000 was raised after a $10,000 donation from the Nanaimo Foundation.

Peter Sinclair, executive director of the food bank, told NanaimoNewsNOW they’ll be able to turn the sizable donation into $363,000 worth of food for the community and non-profits they assist.

“We’re super appreciative any time we get contributions from the community. It’s obviously a very trying time for us and to see the support we’re getting is definitely encouraging.”

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Sinclair said the food bank saw heavy demand in the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need is only anticipated to rise.

“We’re prepared to meet that demand because of the support we’ve received from the community.”

Summer is traditionally a time where the number of non-perishable donations drop.

Sinclair said the food bank is altering their Food 4 Summer drive, where households place food into bags dropped off right at their door.

This year roughly 8,000 bags will be mailed out to be filled and returned to the Loaves and Fishes warehouse on Fry St. There are also in-store efforts from many businesses like Thrifty Food and Island Savings.

The Food 4 Summer drive runs throughout the month of June.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit