Altona and area young people "gung ho" to deliver the goods in Altona's annual spring food drive

Residents of Altona responded generously to the group of young people going around town collecting donations for the annual spring food drive.

It went great! It was so busy," said Angelika Stoesz, chair of the foodbank. "There were just so many youths that came out. Once they started coming, the cars just rolled in and our trucks were full - it was really awesome! We had a good number of cash donations, some of them quite large. In our building, we set up tables and when we took it all in, they were all full. We didn't have time to weigh [the donations] or anything, but it was a lot of good stuff."

The food bank has always enjoyed strong support by the community said Stoesz.

"We live in an awesome community. But I think as people realize how much groceries cost, they also realize how many people really cannot afford it, they've seen our numbers go up, and with that, their support has gone up. It's just wonderful."

Stoesz had high praise for the young people who gave up their evening to go door-to-door collecting donations.

"You know, from the time I worked at [W.C. Miller Collegiate], if I needed help and I talked to the youth, they were there to help. I love that they're so gung-ho to go out and do this. We all know our future volunteers come from our youth. The more we can get them involved, the more they enjoy what they're doing, the more likely they're going to be there when we need them."

Stoesz does not expect the flow of food bank clients to ebb over the summer months.

"Sometimes it will go down a little bit when the gardens start producing, but many of our clients do not have that option and you know we've had a pretty steady numbers through the last while and I suspect it will continue. Our hope is that we won't always need this much support, but as we know right now. You've got to be there. People need this. And we're there to provide it for them."


~With files from Candace Derksen~