Target Hunger food drive supports the needy

By Justin Seward on June 15, 2022.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge Interfaith Foodbank volunteers unpack a bags from a truck during the annual Target Hunger event on Saturday.

The Lethbridge and Interfaith Food Banks held its annual Target Hunger city-wide food drive event on Saturday.
The day needed hundreds of volunteers to cover over 200 routes to either pick up or drop off bags of food and to sort the bags at both food banks when food comes in.
This year brought in 60,000 pounds of food and almost $195,000 in monetary donations.
“We’ve lucked out,” said Danielle McIntyre, Interfaith Food Bank executive director.
“Target Hunger has been one of the few activities that was able to take place last year and the year previously. So we have managed to fill our routes every year and keep people hopping as the donations come in.”
Target Hunger’s goal was 50,000 pounds this year.
“And we’re anxious to see how we turn out on that. Last year we had a 50,000-pound goal and over 73,000 was brought in. This year with the current economic climate, we’re not quite sure if we’re going to be able to hit that goal.”
McIntyre said this year is unlike other years.
“We’re just coming out of pandemic and we’re also experiencing inflation and high grocery costs,” she said.
“So we’re unsure what the donations will look like. We’re finding that some of our routes have been very successful, maybe from neighbourhoods that have the ability to give a little bit more this year and then some have had a harder time and fewer donations to pick up when they’re in the lower income areas.”
The Interfaith Food Bank have seen a steady increase in numbers since March 2021.
“So month over month our numbers are growing which is not unexpected having just come out of the pandemic,” she said.
“But the current grocery prices, fuel costs are definitely going to be putting more people in our line up.”
Fred Gravel has been a food bank volunteer off and on since 1998.
“Seeing all the food come in, it’s really good,” said Gravel, on his favourite part of Target Hunger.
“Last year was a phenomenal year. This year hopefully is going to be even better.”
Gravel was asked about Target Hunger and how it resonates with the community.
“Giving to others that don’t have,” he said in response.
“It doesn’t take much, you’ve got cupboards full of stuff and it’s always good to give back to the community.”
Once the food drive was complete, the food will then go back into the food bank’s stock and then assembled into hampers to feed families in Lethbridge.