A most generous year end for Northumberland Fare Share Food Banks
Staff of Lauria Hyundai seen with Fare Share board director, Duncan MacKinnon receiving food from the “Stuff the Santa (Fe)” Food Drive held at their dealership in Port Hope
Cobourg, Ontario - Northumberland Fare Share Food Banks reports a record-breaking Christmas season for food drives and donations and extends a whole-hearted thank you to the community. The economic picture has helped to broach the former record of monthly food bank dependancy, therefore the need is greater than before. The numbers are still coming in but it would be safe to say that over 10 tonnes of food and over $15,000 has been donated locally. In comparison CBC's annual food drive resulting in 7.5 tonnes of food collected, and while significant when you consider what has been donated locally in Port Hope and Cobourg, residents and businesses need a tremendous pat on their generous backs.
The holiday season started with an annual neighbourhood gathering of Penryn Village residents in Port Hope with nearly a 1/2 ton of food and $500 donated to the food bank. The local police departments shone through in their novel way with the Port Hope Cram-a-Cruiser event held at Giant Tiger, Metro and the Independent grocers generating just shy of 2-tonnes of food and over $700 in donations. Cobourg Police, not to be outdone, mounted their effort with a combination food and toy drive at Walmart. Close to a tonne of food and about $800 was collected.
The congregations of local churches maintain their monthly charge but December is always greater, this year being greater all around.
Volunteers of the food banks have been picking up from eagle.ca, St. Anthony, Port Hope High, and Ganaraska Trails schools, the TD Canada Trust and BMO, Vandermeer Toyota and a new contributer - Nine Muses of Cobourg, who is hosting another open-house today.
“We can't forget our volunteers”, says executive director George Leger, “none of this happens without the hundreds and hundreds of hours our people put in to make the operation run smooth”.
The volunteers of the Capitol Theatre lead by John Ed, did a stellar job with a first ever effort by including a food drive with their Capitol Christmas fundraiser. A call to the bank on several occassions to pick up food pushed the limits of storage in Port Hope. “Don't worry, we'll use it all”, says Fare Share Food Bank manager, Peter Hills, “with the numbers (of people) we see at our doorstep, there is certainly a need”.
Herma's Find Foods ran several draws for food baskets. Ballots were given to people making a donation resulting in over $500 donated by customers and Herma matching the contribution. Herma's colleague, Tom Payne came forward with an additional donation making for a rather substantial gift. And in true Herma spirit the donation came with sacs of food.
“People have dropped food and money off at the bank this year - it the best year ever”, says Hills.
Fare Share's Cobourg manager, Lori Vout echoed much of what Port Hope's manager said. “We have had to extend our hours to deal with the number of people lined up for assistance. It is wonderful to have the food for these people. We received food from Cameco, No Frills, Metro, Foodland, Horizon Plastics employees and of course the Police drive on top of our regular contributions. We've had to shuffle things around in order to store it all and for the first time our freezer was filled to capacity - the community is so generous”.
Donations have also come in through www.fareshare.ca and CandaHelps which funds food purchases that the banks fall short of throughout the year. “It's a special time for sure”, remarked board director, Duncan MacKinnon, “and it is so positive to see the community help as they do”.
Fare Share is always concerned that they miss thanking people for their help and donations, but there are just so very many people coming together to make for one of the most generous years yet. Fare Share extends best wishes to everyone and their families this Christmas and a prosperous New Year.