Trick or Eat food drive hoping to scare away hunger

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on October 31, 2024.

Submitted photo - Participants stand around a trailer of donations as part of a previous year's Trick or Eat food drive. The Interfaith Food Bank will be staying open late until 9 p.m. to receive the items collected from various neighbourhoods.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

Tonight the Interfaith Food Bank will be staying open late until 9 p.m. as part of their annual Trick or Eat food drive in order to receive the items collected from various neighbourhoods.

Danielle McIntyre, executive director of the Interfaith Food Bank said they have had participation at different levels over the years depending on the groups that decided to engage with the drive.

“Sometimes you get large groups where they have lots of adults that go out with a trailer, other times we had two or three kids that go out on their own,” said McIntyre.

 She said this year they decided to offer three different options for participating with trick or eat. The first one is to go trick or treating for the food bank.

 “But with that one, we really want people to register in advance so that we can get them name tags. And then the community members know that they’re legitimately collecting on behalf of trick or eat,” said McIntyre.

She added that those name tags have a QR code on them, in case someone when they show up at someone’s house and they don’t have extra canned goods to share, they can scan that code and they can give online.

“Trick or Eat is trick or treating for the food bank, we encourage people to dress up but they don’t have to, but it just makes it so much more fun,” said McIntyre.

She said they will also be accepting donations from people directly at the food bank if they want to stop by and donate.

“For people who show up with their donations, we’re going to give them a treat bag. We’re also going to see if they’re willing to have us take their photos in costumes, because we’re going to have a social media this or that contest,” said McIntyre.

She said the second option is to include giving to the food bank with your Halloween festivities. If people in the community are hosting a haunted house for people to come by on Halloween or having a Halloween party and would like their guests to donate, they can ask the Interfaith Food Bank for collection bins.

 “And then the third option is just the easy click and give. We do have a special trick or eat page on our website. People can go to that, click the button and make a food bank donation which will really help us,” said McIntyre.

 She said they are struggling this year, and they are trying to find any way they can to engage the community in supporting the families that they are trying to help.

 “We haven’t put a goal attached to it as to how many pounds we’re looking to bring in. This is just an opportunity for people to be engaged in something that’s happening in the community and turn it into a way to support the food bank,” said McIntyre.

Some of the items they are in desperate need of include baby food, formula, diapers, canned meat, peanut butter and canned fruits.

“We are asking for those things that have higher protein and fiber content and are a little bit more nutritional than the things that are loaded with salt or sugar,” said McIntyre.