Kelowna

Several large donations in recent months have helped stock the shelves of the Kelowna Community Food Bank.

"The need is more acute over the winter months. It is definitely the season to give, and it is the time of year when people are more mindful of the need," says Food Bank public relations coordinator David Purdon.

On November 20, $39,000 worth of food was donated community-wide during the Canada Post Employee Food Drive, says Purdon.

Earlier this month, Trinity Baptist Church handed over a $36,000 cash donation.

"That is huge. It is unbelievable -- an out pouring of generosity in response to a real need."

Trinity's donation has been earmarked to fill 1,600 'singles' hampers -- enough to last four months.

Senior pastor Wayne Alguire says the donation came out of a week long wake-up call to the congregation during which members ate only a handful of rice and vegetables each day.

"We wanted to let people feel the pain of being a little hungry. Not only people on the other side of the world, but people in our city face this issue every day. What they need is support, they need food on their shelves. That is something we can do."

An estimated 100 households rely on the Food Bank in Kelowna each day, up 29 per cent over last year.