According to Lakes District Food Bank Coalition volunteer Joanna Carnie it has been a great end to the year for the local food bank.

All shelves are fully stocked which enables food bank volunteers to give a big helping hand to those less fortunate this Christmas.

Carnie said that both community members and local businesses have been extremely generous to the food bank this year, with both cheques and food items flooding in.

"It has been awesome. The food bank is stuffed with food. Our freezers are full and the cheques have been rolling in," Carnie said.

Carnie said that recently receiving a $6,000 cheque from Endako Mines Ltd. which is located near Fraser Lake, made her day.

"With this cheque we are now able to put meat in the freezer. We like to keep the supply of meat up."

The food bank uses all dollar donations like the one from Endako Mines Ltd. to purchase items such as fresh produce, meat and dairy products.

"We try not to buy any paper products, such as diapers or toilet paper as our mandate is to provide food," Carnie said, adding that items such as diapers usually come in by donation.

Baby food is also an item that is not purchased by the food bank, so it's another item that they rely on locals to donate.

"The generosity the community has shown to the food bank really helps ... it keeps us going and this year has really been great."

Carnie said the first food bank distribution for this month was incredibly large.

"There was a record number of people coming in for help."

Despite this, she said the number of locals relying on the food bank is down slightly this year.

"There was approximately 280 people per month last year, whereas the year before it just was below 300 people coming in per month. This number also includes babies and children," she said.

"It is comforting to know that through the food bank, kids are getting the meals they wouldn't otherwise be getting."

The food bank also receives dented and damaged food items from the local Real Canadian Wholesale Club and Overwaitea which, Carnie said is a blessing.

"We appreciate all the broken and discarded goods from the local supermarkets, it really helps."

As well as supplying damaged items, the local supermarkets have donation boxes available for locals to easily deposit any items they wish to donate to the food bank.

Aside from donations from local businesses, the food bank also receives regular donations from local families, with some families donating items every month. "Their generosity helps us year round."

Carnie has been volunteering at the food bank for eight years and said she also appreciates the work of other local food bank volunteers.

Aside from volunteering their time at the distribution centre, behind Process 4 circle arts Gallery, a number of locals have also volunteered their time as food bank shoppers.

With money provided by the food bank, they purchase items from local supermarkets to stock the food bank's shelves.

"We have two new shoppers that have just come on board. We also have St. Sgt. Grant MacDonald who has been picking up discarded items from the local supermarkets for the food bank," Carnie said, adding that the help all the volunteers provide is really appreciated.

The food bank is open on the first and third Tuesday of every month and if locals are interested in helping out they just need to stop by the distribution centre on food bank days, or alternatively phone Joanne Carnie at 250-692-3029.