Each year Salvation Army thrift stores across the country run a food drive and the food is then passed onto the the Salvation Army food banks.
This year the Salvation Army thrift store in Langford is breaking the pattern and donating its collected items to the Goldstream Food Bank.
“This way it helps the community we do business in,” said Ron Wilson, district manager of Salvation Army national recycling organization. “We are all struggling for donations. Things are really tight with the demand.”
The store is collecting any non-perishable food items. In previous years the food would be trucked to downtown Victoria, now it will be delivered to a food bank a few blocks away.
“For most of our customers who ask about the food banks, it is too far for them to go downtown (Victoria),” said store manager Eleanor Horvath.
The food drive began Nov. 15 and so far the store has collected one shopping cart full of food.
“Once we have a full cart we are running them over to the Goldstream Food Bank,” Wilson said.
The Salvation Army’s goal is to collect 16 carts full of food from the Langford location.
“I think it’s great the food collected stays here,” said Gayle Ireland, president Goldstream Food Bank. “At Christmas time we need all the help we can get. It’s nice to be supported by businesses in the western communities.”
The food drive will continue until Dec. 31. Donations can be dropped of at 777 Goldstream Ave.