In a stunning display of generosity and community spirit, Kamloops residents donated a record-breaking 75,000 pounds of food during the Kamloops Food Bank’s 35th biannual food drive — the largest collection in the organization’s history.
The food drive, held on Saturday, saw a flurry of activity as volunteers, Rotarians, and community members worked tirelessly to deliver and collect 33,000 donation bags from homes across the city. Just five and a half hours later, the final tally came in — a haul valued at more than $271,000, nearly double the amount collected during the Spring Food Drive earlier this year.
For Bernadette Siracky, President and CEO of the Kamloops Food Bank, the experience was overwhelming in the best possible way. “It was breathtaking. What could have been the lowest turnout for a food drive turned into one of the most inspiring weeks we’ve ever had. The community just wrapped itself around us.”
A Last-Minute Challenge Turned Historic Success
The food bank faced a potential logistical nightmare just one week before the drive, when organizers realized they were short thousands of volunteers to distribute bags across the city. In response, Siracky and her team issued a public call for help — and Kamloops answered. “Our phone didn’t stop ringing for five straight days,” Siracky said. “We had seniors, moms with babies, church groups, even the Chris Rose Autism Center stepping up to help. It was magical.”
Rotarians played a crucial role in collecting the bags, continuing a tradition of support. On Saturday, their efforts kept going non-stop from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with many returning for second and third trips due to the sheer volume of donations. “Not only did the bags get delivered — they got filled,” Siracky added. “There were vehicles just packed to the roof, trip after trip. It was beautiful.”
Stocked Up and Ready to Serve
The donation will provide a vital buffer as the food bank heads into the colder months — a time of year when demand typically spikes. “This one-day drive will carry us all the way to Christmas,” Siracky explained. “That’s huge. It gives us breathing room, and it means we can focus on helping people instead of worrying about running out of food.”
And it’s not just the quantity that impressed Siracky and her team — it was the quality of what was donated. “This wasn’t a pantry clean-out,” she said. “People gave thoughtful, high-protein items, baby supplies, pet food, peanut butter, tuna — things we often struggle to afford in large quantities. We’re so grateful.”
With food prices and operating costs continuing to rise, the timing couldn’t have been better. Siracky noted that the food bank, which supports 10,000 individuals and 53 partner agencies, has not seen its warehouse this full in years.
Beyond the Bags: A Call for Sustainable Support
Despite the success, Siracky emphasized that community goodwill alone cannot meet the growing, year-round demand for food support. “We’re doing incredible things here in Kamloops — from food drives like this to one of the largest food recovery programs in Canada,” she said. “But what the recent Food Banks Canada report shows is that this model isn’t sustainable forever.”
Canada received a “D” grade in Food Banks Canada’s national food security report card, largely due to the increasing reliance on local donations and volunteer efforts without consistent government funding. “We were never meant to become the permanent solution,” Siracky said. “Food banks were started as a temporary support in the 1980s. Today, we’re feeding thousands, diverting 2.5 million pounds of healthy, perishable food from landfills, and distributing an estimated $12–13 million worth of food a year — mostly without government support.”
Still, she says, Kamloops continues to shine as a model for what’s possible when a community comes together. “What we do here is really special,” she said. “This food drive proves that. And from the bottom of our hearts — thank you, Kamloops.”
