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Cram the Cruiser helps with 'significant increase' at Tri-City food bank

Coquitlam RCMP collected 1,400 pounds of food and more than $1,000 in donations at its Cram the Cruiser, a drive for SHARE Family and Community Services.
Tri-City News Staff

Coquitlam RCMP issued the call last week.

And the community responded with dozens of filled grocery bags — and bucks.

On Thursday, July 25, the detachment collected 1,400 pounds of food and more than $1,000 in donations at its Cram the Cruiser, a drive for the SHARE Family and Community Services Society in the Tri-Cities.

Held in partnership with Metro Vancouver Transit Police, the event was staged outside the former Save-On-Foods in Coquitlam and the Safeway store in Port Coquitlam. Coquitlam Express hockey players also helped out with the cause.

The RCMP campaign is hosted in December and in the summer, when contributions to the food bank are low.

Claire MacLean, CEO of SHARE, said with the rising cost of living, many Tri-City residents are struggling to get by: children are going hungry, seniors are limiting their meals and families are trying to make ends meet.

She said SHARE’s food bank has seen a 48 per cent uptick over the past year in people using the service.

“SHARE's food bank has seen a significant increase in the number of people seeking help but, together, we are making a difference,” said Claire MacLean, CEO of SHARE, in the RCMP news release.

SHARE needs help

Meanwhile, the SHARE food bank (at the back of 2615 Clarke St., Port Moody) is open for donation drop-offs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

These items are needed the most:

  • canned diced tomatoes
  • chunky tomato sauce
  • canned fruits
  • canned vegetables (corn and mushroom)
  • canned fish and meats (tuna and ham)
  • instant oatmeal and cereal variety packs (single-serving packages)
  • canned meals (beans in tomato sauce and beef chili, stew)
  • pasta (900 g or smaller)
  • extra virgin olive oil (1L or smaller)

Hampers are distributed on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. from:

  • Hillside Community Church (1393 Austin Ave., Coquitlam)
  • Trinity United/St. Catherine’s Anglican church (2211 Prairie Ave., Port Coquitlam)
  • SHARE food bank (2615 Clarke St., Port Moody)