Another year of the Yellowknife Stuff the Bus food drive is in the books and organizers say 2020 was the most successful year yet.
Moose FM has been running the event from the Yellowknife Co-op for 15 years, inviting residents to purchase $25 food hampers, which the station donates to the Yellowknife Food Bank.
Natalie Pressman/NNSL photos
Each year, the Co-op grocery store assembles the $25 hampers, adding rice, crackers, beans, and other food items based on the YK Food BankSA国际影视传媒檚 needs. SaturdaySA国际影视传媒檚 event, SA国际影视传媒渟tuffed the busSA国际影视传媒� with 700 food hampers. That exceeded last yearSA国际影视传媒檚 450 hampers, and Moose FMSA国际影视传媒檚 2020 goal of 600.
Greg Komarnicky, Moose FMSA国际影视传媒檚 programming director, said staff at the radio station SA国际影视传媒渃ouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 believe how much the community came together.SA国际影视传媒�
Given the difficult year 2020 has been for many, he said the Moose FM team wanted to make their 15th drive bigger than ever and SA国际影视传媒渟tep up to help any way (they) could.SA国际影视传媒�
The bus, he said, was as full as he's seen it.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was just amazing,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Komarnicky described business owners and residents offering their time as volunteers and donating personal food items beyond the $25 hampers. He recalled one shopper coming up to the Moose FM table, leaving his full grocery cart and walking away.
SA国际影视传媒淲e had to check with him a few times to make sure we wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 coming back (for the food),SA国际影视传媒� Komarnicky said.
One hundred of the food hampers were donated to the Yellowknife YWCA, and the remaining 600 to the Yellowknife food bank. The Co-op also put together $15 SA国际影视传媒減ersonal hygieneSA国际影视传媒� packages that shoppers could purchase for shelters around town.
Justin Nelson, general manager of the Yellowknife Co-op, agreed that this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 drive was SA国际影视传媒減robably the most successful Stuff the Bus weSA国际影视传媒檝e had.SA国际影视传媒�
He said residents are always generous with their donations, but SA国际影视传媒渢his year was a little more special.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e come together as a community to fight Covid and make sure no one goes through the holiday season hungry,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t certainly makes me proud to be a Yellowknifer.SA国际影视传媒�
