Hunger Awareness Day important for P.A.

Hunger Awareness Day is Canada is May 30 and the local Share-a-Meal/Food Bank is hoping the date will help keep the needs of the community in the spotlight.

Across the province, more than 22,000 people used a food bank in 2010, which is a 20 per cent increase over 2009.

In Prince Albert, Share-a-Meal manager Linda Fidler said there’s been an increase closer to 10 per cent, with almost half being children.

“It’s important for everyone in the community knows about hunger issues here,” she said. “Hunger doesn’t revolve around certain people, it is a multicultural issue and we just want to let the people out there in Prince Albert know there is a great need out there.”

“I can’t imagine what people would do if were not able to come here and get food from us.”

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As many as 100 meals are served each weeknight out of the kitchen and about 15 hampers are given out, which can provide enough food for up to three days. As well, the food bank provides food to many organizations, schools and community centres.

On Tuesday, the food bank will be participating in Hunger Awareness Day with a barbeque and food drive with live entertainment.

In addition, Kraft Canada is partnering in the efforts by matching cash donations made at food banks across Canada up to $200,000 between May 31 and June 10.

Fidler said that the donations are always important. However, she said that for much of the year there simply aren’t enough donations and the food bank buys food several times a week.

“As the year goes on people get into their own things and so it’s very important right now that they know that we are here and the need is still needed,” she said.

The barbeque begins on May 31 at 11 a.m. Donations of food and money are accepted at any time with drop boxes available at many shopping locations and of course, volunteers are always needed.

adesouza@panow.com