Kirsten Larsen
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 25/98) - Customers were lined up three rows thick inside the Subway restaurant last Thursday afternoon, but many of them were not there for lunch.

Workers from the Yellowknife Food Bank were collecting food donations brought in by customers for the third annual Subway food drive. Participants received one 6" sub voucher in return for a donation of any type of nonperishable food item for the Yellowknife Food Bank.

Participants' dedication to the drive had food bank workers pilling donations to teetering heights. Donations filled the back wall of the restaurant by noon, which surprised the Yellowknife Food Bank workers helping during the one-day drive.

"People are bringing in bags of food," said Paula Parrell, the bank's co-chair. "This will be good for about three food runs."

The food bank serves a varying average of 70 to 260 people each food bank day, held every two weeks from 1:30 p.m to 3:30 p.m. Approximately 62 food items are given out to each person who use the service.

Subway, owned by Donna and John Williston, has offered the food drive annually since the year it opened in 1996.

"We were just starting our business and we knew the food bank needed extra donations," said Donna.

She thought it was a perfect idea and arranged the event.

"We are in the food business, so it fit very well," said John. "We made it an annual thing because the first year was a success and so we did it a second year and now people ask for it."

The total number of subs given away in exchange for food donations increased from last year's 140 to a new total of 870. But, the actual number of participants in the food drive exceeded the number of giveaways.

The Willistons said that food items were being dropped off the night before the food drive/giveaway and some people who participated during the day did not use their free sub voucher. The amount of food donated by individuals ranged anywhere from a couple of cans of soup to boxes and bags full of various items which exceeded the cost of a sub.

The low sales count that day, as a result of the giveaways, does not bother the Willistons. Donna said the drive is not about promotion or making sales, it's about supporting the community.

"It's the food bank's day, not ours," she said.

"We do it closer to Christmas for awareness to peak peoples' interest and attention about the food bank." added John.

The food bank is gearing up for its annual Christmas hamper and food drive this month and will be sending out about 500 letters to businesses in Yellowknife asking them to participate. Businesses will have the opportunity to set up donation boxes in their offices and the items will be picked up one week before Christmas.