The community of Thompson came together in a remarkable display of generosity and kindness to donate 40,000 pounds of food to those in need. The food was donated to Second Harvest from Simplot, who reached out to all the food banks in Thompson, offering to give them the food to donate to others in Thompson if they paid $2,000 for transportation. Unfortunately, nobody had the money to pay for the travel expense.
Marry Mount took charge of the scenario and reached out to a variety of people to see who would be willing to donate the travel expense. It was not until a grant was filed to TNRC and Oswald Sawh approved the travel expense and donation that the plan could move forward.
Many volunteers donated their time including United Rentals who operated skid steers to unload the numerous stacked pallets of food. Other volunteers from a variety of organizations, including MKO, Futures, Street Reach, and Babies Best Start, came out to help load boxes into their vehicles. Together, they helped donate 10,000 boxes of food.
The sheer volume of donations was so high that it blocked off Thompson Drive, as many cars and trucks waited eagerly to help with the effort. The community came together in a selfless display of generosity, with individuals and businesses alike offering everything from personal vehicles to commercial trucks to transport the donations.
The true giving heart of Thompson was on full display, as people came out of the woodwork to lend a hand in any way they could. This community-wide effort is a testament to the strength of the Thompson community and serves as an inspiration for others to come together and make a positive impact.
Volunteers worked hard to distribute food to those in need, and the donations for transportation were fruitful. This display of community power is a shining example of what can be achieved when people come together for a common goal. Those who contributed to the initiative should feel proud of their positive impact.
The people of Thompson have shown remarkable generosity and selflessness, reminding us that even in the darkest of times, hope remains. Such acts of kindness prove that we are all in this together. By working together, we can overcome any obstacle and create a brighter future for ourselves and our communities.
~Matthias J. Johnson is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Thompson Citizen. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
