A seniors centre is gathering donations for the local food bank

Photo: Chelsea Powrie

A Penticton assisted living facility is running a month-long drive for food bank donations. 

The Hamlets in Penticton are hoping to be able to fill their entire bus with donations of non-perishable items by the end of October.

"The Hamlets in Alberta and British Columbia got together in the summer, and it's a competition between all of us!" said community relations co-ordinator Debra Saunders.

The bus will be parked in front of Safeway in Penticton from noon until 2 p.m. Saturday, showing off how the donations already gathered and hoping for more. The public is encouraged to drop by and contribute, and will get a free coffee and muffin donated by Safeway.

"And we will be transferring all the food to the Penticton Food Bank, so it is going locally," Saunders said.

They are looking for any non-perishable items like pasta and canned goods.

"Things that you can cook for a family, you know, canned vegetables, as long as it's not out of date," Saunders explained.

If the Penticton Hamlets win the competition, they will get a pizza party for their staff, but the real reason they are involved is to help local families. 

"I just feel, this time of year, families are in need more. Kids are back at school and there's school pictures and school supplies," Saunders said. "And then Thanksgiving comes, and Christmas with a lot of abundance. We thought this would be a good month to do it."

Drop by Safeway on Oct 19 to contribute, or go by The Hamlet during business hours to drop off donations at the front desk.