By Cheryl Jahn

PGFNC gears up to feed hundreds

Dec 18, 2024 | 3:36 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Dolley after dolley came through the doors at the Prince George Friendship Centre Wednesday (Dec.18) as volunteers from the centre and the United Way BC are gearing up to build food hampers.

“For years and years, Prince George Native Friendship Center has relied on the wonderful donations from the community. And every year, we create 200 hampers for individuals in Prince George,” explains Brandi MacAulay Assistant Executive Director.

She says it takes a small army to make this happen.

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“So we’re very fortunate for our volunteers and our existing staff that take time out of their day to come and help us every year for the busy three days that we have all this going.”

And the dedication of that core group of volunteers and existing staff goes way back. Decades, in fact.

“And George was the Executive Director at the time and said, we need to do something,” says Executive Director, Barb Ward-Burkitt. “If we had every staff member in the organization, if they each donated $5 every payday, we could start a food bank program and provide food security to our clients initially. And so that’s how the program started, by staff donating.”

Truckloads of food are delivered, laden with food from various partners. It is a relatively new relationship between the Prince George Native Friendship Centre and the United Way that greases the wheels through the Food Link Initiative, which facilitates the partnerships.

“Why PGNFC is chosen for this particular program is because their work aligns with what the Food Link up does. So PGNFC is supporting communities and local communities in need with these food hampers during this holiday season,” says Victoria Awodele, Regional Coordinator for the Community Impact and Investment

And this scenario doesn’t end today.

“So we have our staff that comes for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and our volunteers,” says MacAulay. “So on Thursday, Friday, that’s our pick up and delivery date. So we’re very fortunate that early Services supports their stats, brings their staff and their busses to us and we go out and do 150 plus deliveries.”

But food needs in the community aren’t isolated to one time of year.

“Our Emergency Resources food bank puts out about 6,000 food hampers a year. That’s just the hampers. So it’s not including the family members that are impacted by that food hamper that’s delivered. So we really rely on donations.”

Over 1.1 million British Columbians lack consistent access to healthy food.