Food Bank moving its annual food drive online

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Partners In Mission Food Bank is doing away with its annual food blitz for this year and switching to a virtual donation drive. 

“It doesn’t feel right to have a face-to-face type event where you’re gathering food and working in groups,” Partners In Mission Food Bank Executive Director Dan Irwin said. “Unfortunately, that’s 25 to 30,000 pounds of food we won’t be getting this year.”

Irwin adds that there was some debate about hosting a typical food drive, but at the last minute, his organization decided against it.

“So we’re trying this out,” Irwin said. “So far, we’re at about 5 per cent since we announced it, so the community is responding, and we appreciate that.”

“As Kingston’s food bank since 1984, our Food Blitz each spring is an essential food drive for us, stocking up our shelves for the summer months when donations typically slow down,” a news release stated.

The Food Bank added that their needs are year-round as their future demand is unpredictable, and very much impacted by the length of the COVID-19 pandemic and any further shutdowns that may come along with it. 

The typical collection amount is between 25,000 and 30,000 pounds of food. In lieu of that, the Food Bank is setting a donation goal of $50,000 to help purchase that amount of food. 

Those looking to make monetary donations towards the Food Bank’s virtual drive can do so at www.kingstonfoodbank.ca