The flood of support for the Langley Sources Food Bank after two thefts recently has helped raise the organization’s profile.
Sources started a new food bank in Langley about 14 months ago.
While they reached out to clients in need of their services, they didn’t have a very high profile in the community at large, said Bruce Strom of Sources.
Then around the weekend of Dec. 12, the Food Bank had about $1,000 worth of gift cards stolen, then in a separate incident, one of its trucks was stolen, and thieves used a gas card to swipe $1,300 worth of diesel fuel before the damaged vehicle was located.
They also lost another vehicle to a faulty transmission.
However, when the Sources Food Bank went public, they garnered more than $20,000 in donations and four trucks, three of them loaners, to replace their vehicles.
Less than a week after the thefts, Sources had the use of a Mercedes-Benz and a Willowbrook Chrysler van.
Sources was also loaned the use of a Purolater van and driver.
Four local businesses came together to donate a one-ton truck.
The Greater Vancouver Food Bank also gave Sources the use of one of its three-quarter ton trucks.
Other local groups, large and small, have also given donations.
• The faculty and PAC at North Otter Elementary sold hot dogs and beverages on Dec. 15 and raised $140 in two hours.
• The Aldergrove Credit Union donated $5,000.
• Barnes Harley-Davidson had been raising money for the Surrey Food Bank from photos with Santa and gift wrapping, but redirected the cash to Sources in the wake of the thefts. They turned over a cheque for $1,775 on Monday.
More donations were coming in through much of last week and early this week. A total for the donations was not known.
Sources serves hundreds of people every month from the Langleys.