Major Rolf Guenther, community and family services co-ordinator, Mount Arrowsmith, Parksville, B.C., understands the importance of helping clients retain their dignity and self-worth. This is why he has changed the way clients are served at the food bank.

Rather than being handed a box or bag of groceries, clients are accompanied by an Army volunteer through the food warehouse and allowed to choose their groceries, according to guidelines set out for their family's size.

Major Guenther made the change because he knows that individuals have different tastes. “We found that a certain amount of the food was given away from every box, or sometimes they would even bring it back,” he says. Allowing clients to choose for themselves eliminates that problem. This approach has had a positive reception.

Photo: Mjr Guenther demonstrates the new food bank system at Mount Arrowsmith