Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
One tonne of food was donated to Yellowknife's two food banks last year, and city staff hope to see the same success in 2012.

Allison Morley, left, and Kerry Penney are two of the 12 team captains participating in the second annual City of Yellowknife Employee Food Drive. - Lyndsay Herman/NNSL photo

The second annual City of Yellowknife Employee Food Drive has city staff already bringing in boxes, cans and bags of much needed food for food bank shelves.

Building on friendly competition, 12 teams made up of city staff are competing to bring in the most food. Last year the winners were chosen based on the overall weight of the food they received, which brought in impressive numbers, but didn't focus on specific food bank needs.

Kerry Penney, a food drive team captain and manager of legal services and corporate policy for the city, said event organizers planned to expand on the success of last year and developed a food points system.

"Last year, because it was based on weight, everyone brought a lot of heavier items," said Kerry Penney, a food drive team captain and manager of legal services and corporate policy for the city.

"There was lots of flour and sugar and pancake mixes. This year we actually got a list of food that is needed ... from the (YK) Food Bank and Salvation Army (food bank)."

Penney said points were awarded for items on the list, with the most points going to the most needed items. Powdered skim milk tops the list with the most points and the greatest need, she said.

Teams will also get points for the best team spirit and most creative team names.

The names are still under wraps because three teams have yet to submit theirs, said Penney.

The final point tally is scheduled for noon on Dec. 14 and the food will be split between the YK Food Bank and the Salvation Army food bank.

The food donations this year are sorely needed, said Stacey VanMetre, community case worker for the Yellowknife Salvation Army.

She said there are already more hamper applications than last year but food donations are down. Households have until Dec. 16 to apply.

Grant Pryznyk, president of the YK Food Bank, said competitions such as these are often an effective and fun way to help the community.

He added that Christmas parties that ask for food bank donations in lieu of gifts or ticket sales are another way the food bank gets a lot of its donations at this time of year.

"Every bit helps," Pryznyk said. "Sometimes you get four boxes, sometimes you get 40."

Most needed food donations

• Peanut butter
• Powdered milk
• Evaporated milk
• Whole wheat pasta
• Brown rice
• Canned vegetables and fruit
• Canned soup
• Canned tuna or salmon
• Pasta sauces
• Canned pork and beans
• Oatmeal
• Baking powder
• Flour
• Tea
• Coffee

Source: YK Food Bank

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.