Restaurants and the bakery in Gimli got cooking last week to support Evergreen Basic Needs’ staff and volunteers as they packed Christmas food hampers for people in need.
EBN executive director Karen Bowman said they’re so grateful for the local support as the food bank’s volunteers and staff worked flat out last week to pack up the food hampers.
“This was very much appreciated by our staff and our volunteers. Packing the hampers is a big job with lots of heavy lifting,” said Bowman. “They didn’t have to worry about preparing a lunch. This is a special treat for them.”
EBN used to have a café in its building but it had shut down a few years ago, she said, and EBN used to pay for lunches to feed volunteers on hamper days. Having local restaurants and the bakery step in with food and goodies is a wonderful way to support them during hamper week.
“This year we had Chicken Chef, Ship & Plough, Sugar Me Cookie (bakery) and Carlo’s Cucina feeding our staff and volunteers,” said Bowman. “Last year we had the Ship & Plough make us wonderful soups, and Chicken Chef and Sugar Me Cookie also gave us meals and desserts.”
As of Dec. 11, the food bank had packed 247 hampers and Bowman said she expects “there will be more.”
Volunteers from the local seniors’ resource centre and the Diageo distillery are delivering Christmas hampers to food bank clients.
Gimli Chicken Chef owner Melanie Specula said she was happy to step up and provide lunches for EBN.
“We provided four large pizzas yesterday [Dec. 9] and we’re doing 10 sandwiches today [Dec. 10] for the people who are putting together the hampers. We provided specific numbers of items based on what Karen said she needs,” said Specula. “I like to support my community.”
In addition to EBN, Specula said she provided food for 18 Gimli Operation Red Nose volunteers on Dec. 5.
