By Kayla Bruch

Food bank donations on the rise

Dec 22, 2014 | 6:09 AM

The Prince Albert Share-A-Meal Food Bank is receiving more donations than ever as it heads into the Christmas season.

Kerry Ramsdell, co-manager of the food bank, said she has no idea why they’re seeing more donations, but she’s not complaining.

“This is actually the first year we’ve had so many people coming out and wanting to get together and raise money and food for the food bank,” she said. “It means dinner on the table for a family for two to three days; you know food in their belly and smile on their face, so it’s really good.”

Ramsdell said fundraisers are critical for them to provide to the hundreds of families they help all year-round.

“In a month probably at least 600 families come through the food bank and… it might go up a little bit at Christmas time, but not too much,” she said.

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Large-scale fundraiser raises money and collects food donations

On Saturday, several Voices of the North (VON) show singers Christmas caroled outside the Northern Lights Casino to raise money and food for the food bank.

Sheryl Kimbley, president of Musko Entertainment and producer of VON, said they have been part of the Prince Albert community for 23 years. Kimbley said this fundraiser is really close to her heart.

“A lot of aboriginal people unfortunately use the Prince Albert food bank and we have within the Prince Albert Grand Council alone we have 38,000 members and unfortunately we do have a lot of our people that are using that food bank,” she said. “And we think of the children, we think of the elders and we think of the people especially at this time of the year that use those services.”

Singers came from as far as La Ronge to raise funds for the food bank on Saturday.

“It’s amazing how they all came together and said were going to do what we can,” said Kimbley. “Those that can’t come are going to send in money or get somebody to bring in food.”

Kimbley said with the amazing group of people who are part of VON, she wants to plan something even bigger for next year.

“We’re hoping to do a gala like we did with my dad years ago [in] Saskatoon and they raised a lot of money,” she said.

Another critical part of this fundraiser was the Northern Lights Casino, which donated a cheque for $1,000.

Cynthia Ross is the operations manager at the Northern Lights Casino. She said there are a lot of people who need help and this was another way for them to help out the food bank.

“We assist the food bank throughout the year because we’re involved with them through our volunteer committee so as soon as Sheryl contacted us regarding what her plan was for today then we just got on board,” said Ross.

A total of $592 and 187 pounds of food were also donated during Saturday’s fundraiser.

Other food bank fundraisers

Ramsdell said a few fundraisers they have been involved in lately were the MIX 101 and Co-op ball breaker; SaskPro Crossfit December workout and the Legion in Prince Albert will be hosting one on New Year’s Eve.

“We’ve got schools that are donating, we’ve had other businesses drop food off, I’ve still got a couple places I have to pick up before Christmas, so there’s a lot of giving out there this year,” she said.

Ramsdell also made note of how much the Salvation Army Christmas hampers have helped take the pressure off the food bank.

kbruch@panow.com

On Twitter:@KaylaBruch1