20K pound lentil donation to feed thousands in Regina

The Regina Food Bank often feels the heat in the summer months.

Without a major holiday, like Christmas or Thanksgiving, to campaign around, that’s when donations tend to slow down.

“We’ve used this phrase before, that hunger doesn’t take a holiday,” said CEO Steve Compton.

But one big donation will now be able to feed thousands.

The first donation of 19,800 pounds of lentils came into the Regina Food Bank Thursday. The donation is coming from local farmers Doug and Colleen Harle, in conjunction with Dream Development and the Regina Bypass.

“Summer’s one of the times of year when our food supply is most challenged and this donation comes at exactly the right time,” Compton said.

It’s particularly exciting to the food bank that the donation is of lentils, a good source of protein and one that can be consumed in many diets and cultures.

“We give what we have to give, but we don’t always have what we choose to give and now we have what we would choose to give,” Compton explained.

Some lentils will be given directly to families, while many will be turned into soups, stews and other meals in the food bank’s commercial kitchen. The food bank said more than 158,000 meals will be made with the donation.