Food bank helping celebrate Canada Day with ‘BBQ in a Bag’

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman For the Lethbridge Herald on June 8, 2021.

The Interfaith Food Bank will be offering a “BBQ in a Bag” to help Lethbridge citizens celebrate Canada Day in their own backyards.
“Normally the food bank would be at Galt Gardens hosting a big barbecue or pancake breakfast on Canada Day, but due to gathering restrictions this year the barbecue will be offered in a bag,” said Danielle McIntyre, Executive Director.
In partnership with Mikado Electric and Mocha Local, pre-packed barbecue meal kits are available for purchase at the food bank. Each kit is $40 and includes a cheeseburger meal for a family of four with all the fixings, as well as a Canada Day party kit including activities for kids and decorations. Veggie patties can be added for $2 each. All ingredients are locally sourced, and all proceeds will benefit food bank programs and services.
The kits need to be pre-ordered as there is a limited amount, and they need to be picked up by June 30 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Orders can be made by calling 403-320-8779 or online at http://www.interfaithfoodbank.ca
Interfaith Food Bank is also encouraging the community to celebrate Canada Day with a window decoration contest. To participate a picture of the window decoration will need to be submitted by June 24 via email communications@interfaithfoodbank.ca The submission with most likes on social media will walk away with a barbecue in a bag kit.
Also, they are having a children’s colouring contest for children ages three to six years old and seven to 12 years old. Coloring sheets can be picked up at the food bank or print off from https://interfaithfoodbank.ca/programs…/interfaith-kids/ then return colouring sheets to Interfaith Food Bank by noon on June 18, 2021.
Entries will be posted on social media and the one with the most likes will win a summer fun pack filled with bubbles, water games and other surprises.
“We’ve been hit pretty hard with not being able to have our events and fundraising is kind of what keeps us alive here at the food bank. So, having the community still participate with us in a different form of fundraising is definitely going to be a huge benefit to the community at large,” said McIntyre.
Another important event taking place at the Interfaith Food Bank is a Water Drive. This will be ongoing through the summer. Their goal is to acquire 10,000 bottles to make sure they have enough water for the summer months.
“We’re headed for a heat wave and there are many vulnerable people in our community that will need access to water this summer,” said McIntyre.
 Donations of bottled water can be contributed to the Food Share programs at both local food banks. They have also partnered up with Streets Alive, Sage Clan and mycitycare, to get the water into the hands of those who need it most. 
“We have been working to create a food share program that helps to bring food and supplies into the agencies that have the storage space, and then the agencies that do the direct delivery or actual service provision can get their supplies from us,” said McIntyre.
Even though they have a goal of 10,000 bottles of water for the summer, McIntyre said that water is always welcomed at the food bank throughout the year.