The Prince Albert Food Bank received a donation of baskets of food for 70 families, Tuesday morning. (Submitted photo/Reid's Baskets 'N Things)

By Dawson Thompson

Food basket donation

Prince Albert Food Bank receives large community donation Tuesday morning

Dec 16, 2020 | 10:00 AM

After two months of planning and preparation, a local business ‘Reid’s Baskets ‘N Things’ donated 70 baskets of food to the Prince Albert Food Bank. Each has enough food to feed a family for up to three days.

The donation was funded by local business owners, Steve Schultz, owner of the Prince Albert Fine Foods and Doug Harvey, owner of Maxim Truck and Trailer. The total value of the 70 baskets is $3,500.

In October Harvey had reached out to Reid’s Baskets explaining he would like to make a monetary donation for them to build baskets for a charity of their choice. Schultz was then reached out to for food donations for the baskets. P.A. Fine Foods contributed to the cause with a monetary donation as well.

Executive director of the P.A. Food Bank, Kim Scruby said the donation came in at a good time.

“The timing was perfect, were really grateful to have it and I am sure our clients will be too,” Scruby said. “You can tell a lot of time and effort went into putting these together.”

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Scruby added due to COVID-19 restrictions they have to limit the number of volunteers they can have at the food bank, putting packages together at a time, so this donation of ready-made baskets is really helpful to them.

17-year-old Reid Lehner poses by 70 food baskets he put together to be donated to the Prince Albert Food Bank, Tuesday morning. (Submitted photo/Reid’s Baskets ‘N Things)

In an interview with paNOW, Reid Lehner and his mother Courtney, of Reid’s Baskets and Things explained the food baskets would be available to be picked up by the public early this afternoon.

Courtney explained once the funding had been sorted, they began preparing for the baskets in mid-November.

“It probably took a good three weeks of shopping, planning, and sorting,” Courtney said. “We started watching the sales really well, then began stockpiling everything in the basement.”

She added once they had all the product to put in the baskets, they put everything together in about five hours on Sunday evening with a family assembly line.

Reid explained he is thankful for the support he has received from the community.

“I feel really good helping out lots of people, it makes me feel good that people in the community are willing to buy from me,” Reid said. “I feel welcomed by the community, it makes my heart glow, and it makes my life a lot easier.”

All 70 baskets Reid and his family put together for the Prince Albert Food Bank have enough food to feed a family for three days. (Submitted photo/Reid’s Baskets ‘N Things)

Each basket contains cereal, pastas, tuna, ham, beans, non-perishable fruits, juice, rice, oatmeal, and other snacks like cookies.

Despite donating the food baskets today, the Lehner’s consider themselves the lucky ones this holiday season.

“We have a roof over our head, and a family that is here for us every day, our lives are already very blessed,” Courtney said. “Even if it takes two months, and all our time, if we can bless 70 lives, 14 lives, or however many, we will do that.”

To order a basket from Reid’s Baskets ‘N Things check out their Facebook page.

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Dawson.thompson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: dawsonthompson8