Food banks across the territory are preparing for the holiday season, and the people running them have some advice for people who are thinking of donating this year: keep it simple.

SA国际影视传媒淜D, soups, cans of beansSA国际影视传媒攖he basic things are safe because theySA国际影视传媒檙e always in need,SA国际影视传媒� says Laura Rose, manager of the Hay River Soup Kitchen, which operates a food bank for the community. SA国际影视传媒淢oneySA国际影视传媒檚 good when you donSA国际影视传媒檛 know what to get.SA国际影视传媒�

At some food banks, moneySA国际影视传媒檚 preferable. Margaret Miller, the treasurer for the Inuvik Food Bank, says her organizationSA国际影视传媒檚 shelves are full of donated food but money is needed to pay for the food they put into flats for clients.

The flats are a new item for the Inuvik Food Bank, containing ground beef, a half-dozen eggs, rolled oats or biscuit mix, chicken noodle soup and potatoes. The bank charges clients $10 for each flat, which itself contains about $40 worth of food.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen we were just handing out food to everybody, we were handing out between 100 and 110 bags every Wednesday,SA国际影视传媒� says Miller. SA国际影视传媒淲e just couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 sustain that.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭he board thought that if we just charged a small user fee and increased the nutrition value of what they were getting, it would hopefully make the clients feel that theySA国际影视传媒檙e contributing to their own well-being.SA国际影视传媒�

Now the bank gets close to 45 clients each week when itSA国际影视传媒檚 open, on Wednesdays.

SA国际影视传媒淲e buy our goods [for the flats],SA国际影视传媒� says Miller. SA国际影视传媒淭o do that, we fundraise and work bingos to gather money. Food is expensive up here.SA国际影视传媒�

Miller says there is plenty of support from the community in terms of donated foodSA国际影视传媒攖he local justice committee gathers food around town in November, East Three Secondary School does a drive in December and the bank also collects food and money donations at a local craft sale at the end of November. All these items go on the SA国际影视传媒渇reebie shelf,SA国际影视传媒� from which clients are typically allowed to choose four items.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur freebie shelves are in very good shape,SA国际影视传媒� says Miller, and because of this the bank will be letting people take five items from the shelves per visit throughout December.

Back in Hay River, Rose says the soup kitchen is doing well enough to almost keep on top of demandSA国际影视传媒攚hich can be up to 60 people coming by for hot lunches, and 20 to 25 people for food from the bank.

SA国际影视传媒淲e are actually doing better than weSA国际影视传媒檝e done ever,SA国际影视传媒� says Rose, crediting the work of the soup kitchenSA国际影视传媒檚 board. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e still not quote 'on top of it' but weSA国际影视传媒檙e getting very close to being on top of it.SA国际影视传媒�

Right now, Rose is putting together plans for a big feast the Friday before Christmas, at which she expects 60 people or more to show up.

SA国际影视传媒淭urkey and ham and the whole nine yards,SA国际影视传媒� says Rose. SA国际影视传媒淚 usually get some Christmas baking done. Oh yes, I put on a feast over here.SA国际影视传媒�