Dave Stockdale is banking on the support of Whitehorse residents as he embarks on his goal for the summer.

The director on the board of the Whitehorse Food Bank is aiming to get another 200 members for the Green Apple Club, who make monthly donations of $10 to $20 to the food bank, in order to bring the membership up to 500.

"My target was always 500,” Stockdale, also a city councillor, said in an interview Wednesday afternoon at the food bank.

From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, he will take his campaign to the Real Canadian Superstore in the hopes of signing up local shoppers to the club.

When the food bank first opened in 2009, the club was introduced as the 500 Club. The goal was to recruit 500 members to provide a regular monthly donation, thereby giving the food bank a steady cash flow.

As Stockdale explained though, the name left many with the impression they were expected to give $500 so it was changed to the Green Apple Club. Since then, 300 members have come on board.

It's now Stockdale's ambition to get the remaining 200 members (or even more) by the end of the summer.

"You need that secure funding,” he said, noting the annual budget for the food bank is "well over” $350,000.

While the food bank isn't under any major financial strain right now, Stockdale said it's "always on a tightrope.”

Having a steady amount coming in means that when there is a shortage of a particular food, that need can be filled.

Cash also goes to keeping the lights on at the Alexander Street location.

As a member of the club, Stockdale knows the benefits that come with it.

He pointed out the automatic deduction off his credit card each month is an easy way to give, and he doesn't even notice the money leaving his account anymore.

While many often give their charitable donations at Christmas time, Stockdale said he finds it much easier on his budget to make smaller monthly donations than to put up a larger amount at the end of the year.

Once tax season comes around too, contributors get a receipt to claim the donations on their taxes.

"I'm convinced the town will come through,” Stockdale said.

He added he knows from past experience that talking face-to-face with people can produce greater results than phone conversations.

Even if people are unable to provide the monthly donations, he noted just talking with residents can get them thinking of the food bank and will perhaps prompt them to donate in other ways – participating in food drives, making one-time cash donations or simply dropping off some items at the food bank.

Though the summer typically represents a time when many Yukoners are vacationing out of the territory, Stockdale said he doesn't believe that will be a problem in finding new club members.

He plans to be at Superstore for a number of Friday afternoons over the summer with sign-up forms for the club to catch as much of the Whitehorse population as he can. Those who join will be given a Green Apple Club pin.

As for those already part of the club, Stockdale is encouraging them to go out and find one more member to join.

As he pointed out, if everyone in the club did get another to join, it would bring the group's membership far past the goal of 500 to a full 600 members.

Donation forms for the food bank are also available online at www.whitehorsefoodbank.ca