With a new cook book and multiple fundraising events coming up, it鈥檚 safe to say the Sooke Food Bank Society has been keeping busy.

The cook book was written by chef Pat Hogan and is being handed out free to clients at the food bank.

It was designed for people who aren鈥檛 necessarily familiar with cooking the type of food the bank gives out, and also teaches clients how to stretch food out into more meals.

鈥淚f I hand you a can of beans you鈥檙e just seeing a can of beans, but if we give you a few ideas perhaps you鈥檒l see beyond that,鈥� said Kim Metzger, president of the food bank. 鈥淚t also helps create less waste.鈥�

Metzger said they believe that with a little bit of extra effort, such as teaching clients to garden or guiding them to housing subsidies, they can help move people past the food bank.

鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing more exciting to us than when our past receivers become givers,鈥� said Metzger.

She added that the food bank tries to be kind and receive its clients with dignity.

鈥淲hen you are in a situation where you are vulnerable, to know that your community is not going to judge you and give you little bit of a hand up, I think is healing,鈥� said Metzger. 鈥淚t can鈥檛 fix everything, but for a minute it can make it OK.鈥�