B2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, September 24, 2003 Food bank readies for October opening THE TERRACE Churches’ Food Bank has set Oct. 27-30 as the dates for its first distribution period for the 2003-04 season. Judging by past demand, food bank treasurer Dennis Brewer is estimating that 650 bags of food for 1,200 people will be distributed over the four-day period. “The Monday, the first day, is usually the busiest day,” said Brewer as that’s when volunteers come early in the morn- ing to assemble the bags. “We can dis- tribute usually 225 bags on that Monday.” Although the food bank had a small fi- nancial surplus, it has benefited from a recent monetary and food collection drive al Totem Ford which brought in more than $14,100 in cash and food. In cash alone, the food, bank spends between $7,500 and $8,000 each month it has a distribution, said Brewer. The food bank operates from October until spring each year. It doesn’t open in December, leaving that month free for the Salvation Army’s Christmas hampers. Aside from loca! support from a variety of places, the food bank also receives food from the outside thanks to its mem- bership in the national Canadian Federa- tion of Food Banks organization. “Tt costs us $50 a year and we become part of a national food sharing program. i From front Companies donate surplus food and eve- ry couple of months, we get a full pallet load of food,” said pig Brewer. wim Food for B.C. food banks is sent to the a Surrey food bank and then farmed out across the province. Last year the food = bank also received 1,200 cans of sal- mon, the proceeds of a fishery seizure which resulted in a court case. The seized salmon was used as evidence and then distributed to food banks around the prov- ince. Ironically, the economic condilion in Terrace, which drives demand for food, has also affected the food bank itself. Several of its executive members have moved away because of the need to find Dennis Brewer work, One of those who has moved is - Cathy Miller, who has just resigned as the food bank chair, The food bank holds its AGM in November and those interest- ed in taking on an executive role can call either Dennis or Irma Brewer at 635-3744, Skeena chases bucks from all sorts of places “That could be a pas- sibility,” said Martin Hope, New Skeena’s chief financial officer. “Some avenues we're pursuing would be with partners who could bring their own borrowing ‘cap- ability to the company and therefore we would not need to rely on a relatively “expensive short-term loan from the city.” The Prince Rupert offer would provide $20 million out of a total $50 million the company says it needs to start up. the region any way possi- ble. They say the deal will likely invelve parent com- pany owners George Petty and Dan Veniez giving up some of their equity in New Skeena. “T am still pushing hard to get the pulp mili up this year,” said Stuart. He said it will take 90 days after financing is in place to actually start the pulp mill. About $20 mil- lion would be spent pre- paring it. Terrace’'s © sawmiil would likely not re-start before next April, howev- er, they said, because log- ging roads have not been built in time to carry out winter logging. About four-weeks of pre-startup maintenance, at a cost of around $1.5 million, would take place before actval lumber pro- duction. “The sawmill is in very good shape,” Hope said. The company has been dramatically transformed since its previous incarna- tion as Skeena Cellulose. New Skeena also says it has commitments from lenders for loans totalling $7 to $10 million. ~ “We're actively pursu- ing a number of other al- ternatives which are all progressing well,” Hope added, He said he’s pleased Prince Rupert council agreed to give the compa- ny until Oct. 7 to raise. money, although New Skeena had asked for one more week beyond that date. “We don't see any major issues in achieving their information require- ments.” Hope and company vi- ce-president Don Stuart say they and the compa- ny’s owners remain deeply committed to getting the operations up and running and people back to work in Daycare grant provided SKEENA MLA Roger Har- ris presented a $73,000 cheque to the Kermode Friendship Centre Sept. 19, part of a $111,300 grant meant to increase day cure services it provides. ‘ The centre is already the beneficiary of a. $300,000 federal prant to provide preschool pro- grams aimed at preparing young children for school. It was used to construct” a daycare centre which is 2,500 square feet and located just behind the so- ciety's Kalum St.. head- quarters. The provincial money - wilt provide 20 day: care spaces in the building. Construction money came via a federal program called Headstart. As of this weck, the society now has. room for 40 young child- ren. Hanis said the $111,300 grant follows the provin- cial government’s decision to focus on young children, “All of the experts say to concentrate on children -- under six and thatis what ~~ > this is intended to do,” the MLA said last week. In Memoriam consider ao charilable 1 bequunt to Spllepay canada eS an Wanted Person to share gas ex- penses for a straight- through trip to Kam- loops Sept. 28. Call 635-6834 and ask for Michael. ‘Hope’ through éélucatian, and: solutt gins. 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