DAWSON CREEK, B.C. - St. Mark’s Food Bank is celebrating a major milestone this weekend as it marks 40 years of helping residents in need, by hosting a free community barbecue.
The event will include chili, bannock, cake, face painting, a colouring contest and an opportunity for residents to connect with volunteers and community partners.
Administrator Dena Batt said the celebration is designed as a thank you to Dawson Creek and the surrounding area for supporting the food bank over the past four decades.
While the anniversary is a reason to celebrate, Batt says demand for food bank services remains high.
According to Batt, the food bank has grown dramatically over the years. What was once a small food cupboard has expanded into a much larger operation, requiring additional storage racks to handle donations. She noted that food often leaves the shelves as quickly as it arrives.
The food bank currently has more than 1,600 people registered and sees hundreds of pantry and hamper visits each month. Batt said monthly usage consistently approaches 900 visits, reflecting ongoing challenges faced by many households.
She says the people accessing the food bank come from all walks of life, including individuals receiving social assistance as well as employed residents struggling with rising costs.
“There’s even hardworking people that have homes, mortgages, bills, just as anyone else,” Batt said, adding that food inflation and the overall cost of living continue to put pressure on household budgets.
Batt said one of the most difficult parts of the job is seeing people who never expected to need help walk through the doors.
She also credited the food bank’s volunteers for making the operation possible, describing them as the heart of the organization.
“This whole organization is all volunteers, and they’re the ones who make this operation happen,” she said.
The food bank is also in the process of transitioning away from direct oversight by St. Mark’s Church. Batt said the organization has applied for its own charitable status and hopes to soon operate independently as the Dawson Creek Food Bank Society.
The free BBC takes place on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. at 1029 103rd Avenue beside St. Mark’s Church
As it celebrates 40 years of service, Batt said the focus remains on providing a welcoming environment for anyone who needs support, while continuing to meet a demand that has shown little sign of slowing down.