Sobeys to make weekly food donations to P.E.I. food banks

Food banks across Prince Edward Island will get some extra help each week from Sobeys stores.

"Sobeys has been a big contributor to us over the years and they're really expanding on what they've done in the past," saidMikeMacDonald, manager of theUpper Room Food Bank.

Each week, five Sobeysstores will donate hygiene products as well as food nearing the end of its shelf lifeto local food banks.

The products beingdonated will be near or in some cases past the best before date, but still safe to consume.

"It's going to open avenues of different types of food that we can receive or will receive on a regular basis," said MacDonald.

Dairy, meat donations will become regular staples

MacDonald said the food banks will now get donations of dairy products and meats, something they may have received infrequently in the past.

"This should give us a supply of this type of product year-round."

MacDonald said donated meats will be frozen before they reach the best before dates.

"Both ourselves and Sobeys are very conscious of the health and safety and the last thing we want to do is for one of our clients to get sick,"

Theprogram is underway in Nova Scotia, and was announced in New Brunswick earlier this week where MacDonald said it is going well.

MacDonaldsaid the logistics of distributing the products is being ironed out.

"We are open three days a weeks for people to come by and we'll work out with the stores when we can pick it up and then of course the best distributiontimes."

MacDonald said he hopes to have things ready to go in a month. He added the Upper Room Food Bank serves an average of 500 families a month and will see an increase in September.

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