Regina Food Bank volunteers prepare meals for 3,000 families this holiday season

Volunteers are preparing meals and hampers to support more than 3,000 families this holiday season. Sierra D’Souza Butts reports.

The Regina Food Bank has been busy this holiday season as its strong group of volunteers prepare meals to feed to more than 3,000 families in the city.

Betty Donald used to work as a nurse until she lost her eyesight.

“When I had my eye removed, I got a bit of sight back and then I got diagnosed with brain tumors,” she shared.

After not being able to practice nursing anymore, following eye surgery and battling through multiple brain tumours, she turned to the food bank as a volunteer.

“I still wanted to do something so I came to the food bank because they had helped me when I first lost my sight,” Donald shared.

A decade later, she still finds herself coming back to support people in need of care.

“When I couldn’t nurse anymore, this is a second best thing I’ve ever done in my life,” she said smiling.

“You’re still helping people. It gives you satisfaction. That’s what life is, giving to other people not to yourself. For me, it’s my way of giving back.”

Donald is one of many volunteers committed to helping prepare close to 500 food hampers every day for families at the Regina Food Bank.

With the holiday season being a more expensive time for most people, the community-based organization provides an additional 2,500 hampers feeding over 3,000 families in the city.

“It makes a difference for them because it is very stressful for families, especially during this time with all of their expenses. It’s not just the Christmas or holidays expenses, but maybe they need more winter clothes or utilities are changing prices,” explained Evelyn Cerda, vice-president of impact and partnerships at Regina Food Bank.

“It makes a difference that they have somewhere to go that can help them. They don’t have to feel hungry. They have enough nutritious food to feed their families during this time.”

Cerda added the organization solely helps families or individuals who are in need of extra support.

“It’s very hard to come to the food bank for the first time. I think that’s something that we really acknowledge and the fact that someone’s coming to us, it means that they’re actually like at the point that they need the help,” she said.

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Although the food bank already has a solid group of volunteers, Cerda said the more the merrier and will never turn people away from helping.

“There’s many ways people can get involved with the Regina Food Bank. Through donations, volunteering, or doing a food drive,” she said.

“Also learning about food insecurity and speaking to others about it, being our own advocates.”

As part of the annual Hampers of Hope campaign, all donations made until Dec. 24 will be matched by Nutrien.

People can find out more information about what food items are needed or how they can volunteer on the organization’s website.