By Sheldon Spackman

Food donations were up but cash donations were down at the Red Deer and District Food Bank over the last quarter of 2016. That, according to Executive Director and Operations Manager Fred Scaife, who says it was still a year of generous giving from Central Albertans.

Scaife says although cash donations were down over 30 percent over the past few months, food donations were up, meaning they were able to meet all the demands they faced over the Holiday Season. Scaife says they received “amazing” support from the community as numerous schools, clubs, organizations, companies and other visitors came in to either donate their time, food or cash to help them meet their goal of keeping the less fortunate fed in Red Deer. As a result, Scaife says they were also able to provide over 300 families with a Christmas or Turkey dinner over the Holidays.

With the New Year now underway, Scaife says their cash and food supplies are likely at the highest points they will be all year. He says what they currently have will hopefully get them through to September when the “giving season” resumes again.

However, Scaife says they are always able to accept food or cash donations before then of course.