For the tenth year in a row, the Nelson Food Cupboard is preparing Holiday Hampers for 500 people in need of a little extra help to make the holiday season healthy and cheerful.
“With the cost of food so high and the holiday season such an expensive time for families trying to buy gifts and warm clothes for their children, helping them out with food hampers is essential,” said Holiday Hamper coordinator Marya Skrypiczajko.
According to Phillip Jackson, Nelson Food Cupboard Society board director, “There are various reasons why some people don’t have enough food. Unemployment, under-employment, and illness are often factors. No one wants to be in the position of lining up in a church basement to get the essentials for survival, but it can truly happen to anyone. I believe that in our society of plenty, there is no reason why anyone should go hungry at any time of the year.”
The Nelson Food Cupboard’s mission is to provide access to healthy food for people who cannot afford to purchase enough food for themselves and their family, and to do it in a dignified way.
“We don’t ask people why they are in a position to need to use our food cupboard or pick up a hamper at Christmas time; we trust they can make that decision for themselves,” added Kim Charlesworth, Nelson Food Cupboard coordinator.
The Holiday Hamper program is an extension of the Nelson Food Cupboard’s year round work — providing people in need with healthy food, some of it purchased from local organic farmers.
“Providing fresh, healthy, locally sourced food is a key component of our work,” said Charlesworth. “We know all about the connection between a healthy diet and good physical and mental health so we strive to serve our clientele the best food possible.”
The community can help in so many ways at this time of the year — financial donations go toward the hampers, food donations stock the shelves for January, and people interested in putting a hamper together themselves can be matched with an anonymous family.
If you would like to contribute, please send donations to the Nelson Food Cupboard at 602 Silica Street, Nelson, V1L 4N1 or donate online through their website, www.foodcupboard.org. Charity receipts will be issued.
For more information on the Nelson Food Cupboard or to drop off donations at any time of the year, stop by during open hours: Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or call 250-354-1633. The Nelson Food Cupboard is located in the basement of the Nelson United Church at 602 Silica Street.