Food bank challenge having huge success in B.C. finds its way into Sask.

A food bank in Kelowna B.C. recently started a challenge similar to the ALS Ice Bucket which has now gone viral and extended to Saskatchewan.

Those taking part in the One Bag Challenge fill a grocery bag with food, take it to the food bank and make a video or take a picture of them doing it while nominating five others to make a donation. In one week of doing the challenge, the Central Okanagan Food Bank received over 15,000 lbs. of food, some coming from people in Saskatchewan.

Premier Brad Wall received a nomination to take part in the challenge from B.C. Premier Christy Clarke. Wall was unable to make the donation, however, Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison was on vacation in the area with his family and made one on Wall’s behalf.

“It’s a positive thing to do; Elaine and I are volunteers and donate regularly to the Door of Hope back home. The fact we were in the area on vacation allowed us to participate and do some good work in Kelowna as well,” Harrison said.

He added it’s simple, and easily achievable for other food banks to do as well.

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In the summer months, Lenetta Parry, executive director of the Central Okanagan Food Bank said donations slow down and to help bring them up again, Kelowna’s Mayor, Colin Basran helped start the One Bag Challenge.

“He knew we struggle and he wanted to help us out so came up with the idea of donating a bag of food for the food bank. We posted this video where he kind of winged it and it looked similar to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge,” Parry said. “We couldn’t have predicted the success that’s come from the video, it’s kind of gone viral on a local level and the giving has continued to grow and it’s been very inspiring to watch.”

Colton Swiderski is meadowlakeNOW’s municipal affairs, crime and court, health and education reporter. He can be reached at cswiderski@jpbg.ca or tweet him @coltonswiderski.