It may be hot outside, but it’s Christmas at the Nelson Food Cupboard.

The Nelson Food Cupboard is launching a Christmas in July Campaign to garner donations to supply Food Cupboard customers with fresh local produce throughout the summer. The Food Cupboard is fortunate to partner with local farmer Ruth Fraser for the fourth year in a row to supply the Food Cupboard with fresh vegetables from her farm in Glade.

The Nelson Food Cupboard hopes businesses or individuals will sponsor one box of fresh vegetables for $30 or one week’s worth of boxes for $120 for the entire four months that Ruth will be bringing vegetables to the Food Cupboard. All donations are eligible for charity receipts for income tax purposes.

According to Lauren Steeg, Nelson Food Cupboard Coordinator, “Food banks are busy throughout the year and the Nelson Food Cupboard is no different. This spring we’ve been serving 1,000 to 1,400 customers per month, which is an increase from what we’ve seen in the past. We expect to be as busy throughout the summer, and unfortunately this coincides with the season when donations typically slow down. We hope that this year the community will get behind our Christmas in July Campaign and help by sponsoring fresh produce purchasing”.

“We’re thrilled Ruth is willing to deliver her fresh veggie boxes to us again this year and together with the fresh fruit we receive from our Harvest Rescue Program, we should be able to stock our shelves with almost 100% local produce from now until at least Thanksgiving”, she added.

The Nelson Food Cupboard has offered an emergency food supply for people living in Nelson and the surrounding rural areas since 1999. Service is delivered in a barrier free manner which means people are allowed to access the Food Cupboard as often as necessary and they are not asked why they are in need of free food. Efforts are made to stock the shelves with healthy foods and to accommodate customers’ unique dietary needs.

Donations can be dropped off at the Nelson Food Cupboard (in the basement of the United Church at the corner of Josephine and Silica) during hours of operation: Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 – 12 and Thursdays from 12 – 2 or mailed to 602 Silica Street, Nelson BC, V1L 4N1.

For more information about the Nelson Food Cupboard, please visit www.foodcupboard.org or call 250.354.1633