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Red Deer Food Bank clients continue to benefit from ‘Christmas angel’

247 holiday meals donated to food bank
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Mitch Thomson, executive director of Red Deer District Food Bank (left), was grateful for the donation of 247 Christmas meals from local businessman Dale Devereaux. (Photo from Facebook)

For 24 years families in need have been celebrating the holidays with a traditional Christmas meal on their table thanks to a local businessman.

This month Dale Devereaux, and supporters, will provide food for 247 turkey or ham dinners which will feed about 1,000 people.

“They are paying it forward and making a real difference for people. (Devereaux) is definitely one of those Christmas angels in our community. We couldn’t do it without him,” said Mitch Thomson, executive director of the Red Deer and District Food Bank.

Devereaux said 24 years ago he donated over 100 turkeys to the food bank based on the number of houses he sold that year.

“There’s quite the need so it kept growing. We invited customers and friends to help us out. We’ve now fed 27,500 people,” Devereaux added.

He’s known dinner recipients who eventually were able to donate a dinner, which is pretty special.

“It’s been a fantastic thing. Next year’s our 25th year and we’re going to make it big. That’s our plan,” said Devereaux, of Century 21 Maximum.

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Thomson said the food bank has averaged 40 per cent more clients month over month since April. Normally 35 to 50 families a day come in for emergency food hampers. That has climbed to 68 to 75 hampers.

“This year is worst than most years, no question, as many of the COVID benefits ran out, the economy still isn’t quite where it should be, the pandemic is adding pressure on people. We’re hearing people talk about things like surgeries being delayed and other health concerns.”

He said inflation has increased food costs for both clients and the food bank. Breakfast cereal, in particular, has been a struggle to get.

“Often there are children waking up without cereal because we just never have enough.”

He said product distribution has been another issue during the pandemic. Local groceries stores sometimes can’t get orders filled. Canned fruit has been really hard to find. But recently some food supplies bound for British Columbia were rerouted to the food bank which has helped out.

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Devereaux said this year and last year Sobeys had trouble finding enough turkeys so ham was added to the menu.

He said many people aren’t aware of the need in the community. A traditional Christmas meal is out of reach for some families.

“What we take for granted, other people don’t get. I think it’s a very special moment for a lot of families,” said Devereaux about the Christmas dinners.

Thomson said the food bank is incredibly thankful for all the food and monetary donations it receives, and their volunteers.



szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com

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