The Editor,
Re: “Food bank struggles to serve Syrians,” the Now, April 21.
Now reporter Amy Reid wrote a wonderful front page story on the increase of new clients needing our help at the Surrey Food Bank in the month of March.
About 1,000 more people came to our doors for food assistance that month in comparison to the same time last year. These are our neighbours – low-income families, new refugees, single parents, seniors on fixed income – people struggling to stretch their minimal income, pay for the high cost of housing and basic necessities and deal with some challenging life circumstances.
The Surrey Food Bank has been in our community for 33 years and we are proud that we can offer a hand-up while at the same time connecting our clients to other resources that will help to improve their lives.
Amy’s story touched the hearts of many in our city and we are very grateful, but there were even more remarkable outcomes from this one story. It was read by many others, including Corus Entertainment and Global TV and their employees rallied around the Surrey Food Bank. Through radio, TV and social media they shared our story with communities beyond our own, and even organized a one-day, on-site drive at our food bank “# Feed Me Friday”.
To all who made this happen and to those who generously donated food and gifts of money totalling over $61,000 – warmest thanks from our food bank family and clients.
We now understand the meaning of the following quote from Margaret Mead:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Marilyn Herrmann, Surrey Food Bank