The Rhineland and Area Food Bank got some help this week in meeting the demand for its services.
    
Kids at the Kiddie Sunshine Daycare donated a batch of groceries to the Altona-based organization that serves an average of 56 client-families a week. 

"We had a craft sale with brownies and stuff," explained Hannah, noting they sold cards, picture frames and paintings along with brownies and cookies. 

Eventually, the group raised enough money to head out to the grocery store, with supervision of course, and purchase some of the most-in-demand items at the food bank. 

Alvin Ginter is a board member for the food bank, and he picked up the batch of donations on Tuesday morning.

"I think it's very encouraging that kids are being taught at a young age, and maybe it's a natural thing for kids to want to help others as well, but I think it's encouraging that their excited about doing stuff like fund raising and being able to help those that can't help themselves quite the same way."

Emily, Lilly and Hannah explained why it's important to help out.

"To help other people that don't have food and money."

"If they don't have any food, they can get very sick."

They all agreed it felt good to do this and want to do it again.

Ginter also gave a short presentation to the kids about the organization and answered a few questions. 

"They were very good questions," he said. "They ran the gamut from; what kind of things do we provide? What kind of people come? Do we provide candy?"

"They were very good questions," he said. "They ran the gamut from; what kind of things do we provide? What kind of people come? Do we provide candy?""They were very good questions," said Ginter. "They ran the gamut from; what kind of things do we provide? What kind of people come? Do we provide candy?"

Meantime, Ginter says demand for the food bank keeps growing. Just this past Monday, it served 65 client-families with at least four or five of them new clients. He feels this increasing numbers indicate a food security issue in the community.

"By and large, I'm not sure if the community is overly aware of it," he said. "I mean, we have 40, 50, 60 volunteers that help regularly and we're very thankful for them, but just in general in the community, I'm not sure how much of an awareness there is. It's been in the news a lot lately, so probably more awareness than there used to be for sure." 

He added, for many of us, this is something we think happens in other places around the world and not in our own backyards. 

As for how we can help, Ginter says the food bank is always taking non-perishable food or cash donations and is always looking for more volunteers.