The Okotoks Food Bank Association thanked their volunteers with snacks and cake Monday afternoon.

The event was a celebration of National Volunteer Week, which kicked off in the Foothills Sunday.

Sandi Courtrielle, Volunteer Coordinator for the Food Bank, says the idea is to honor the volunteers who give so much of their time to help the community.

"The idea is to give our volunteers an opportunity to mingle, and have some treats, cake and goodies, and show all our appreciation for all the hard work they do for us," Courtrielle said.

Courtrielle said the Food Bank can always use more volunteers, especially as the need for their services continues to grow.

She says they've noticed an uptick in families requesting the family Hampers provided by the Food Bank. The Hamper program is an attempt to provide an assortment of necessities and groceries for families.

"Before 2015, we would have maybe 8 or 10 (on) a big day. Now we do like 13-18 Hampers per session, so that's quite a bit more," Courtrielle said.

Courtrielle attributes the rise in Hamper requests to a weak economy, and a rising population in the Foothills.

She says that the Food Bank serves a diverse clientele, and there is no typical client who seeks their help.

The Okotoks Food Bank Association can be reached at 403-651-6629.

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