98.9 Jet FM’s holiday fundraiser kicks off today at the Cumberland Fire Hall, collecting non-perishable food and monetary donations for the Comox Valley Food Bank.
Chris Arruda, communications director for the food bank, said the fundraiser is a key initiative to help people in need.
“It’s what carries us throughout the entire calendar year, so what we raise in 2025 during the holidays is going directly to people in need right now, but it’s also going to continue to help people far into 2026.”
The annual pallet challenge is returning, encouraging businesses, local organizations and private donors to purchase pallets for $500 each, with tax receipts available.
Fully loaded pallets weigh 1,000 pounds and can include flour, toilet paper, powdered milk, canned goods, toiletries and other basic household items that some families struggle to afford.
Arruda said a common misconception is that the food bank serves mainly unhoused people, when in fact it supports the wider community.
“A lot of our clients have jobs, they have kids, they show up in their cars, and they get their groceries for the week, it’s people that are really struggling.”
Last year, donors purchased 146 pallets for more than $73,000. This year, the goal is to surpass those numbers.
Jet FM will be on site at the Comox Fire Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 9, the Courtenay Fire Hall on Wednesday, Dec. 10, and Thrifty Foods on Cliffe Avenue on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 11 and 12.
