Selfless act initiates successful community challenge

“Penryn Village People”, John Draun and grandchildren Connor and Hailey, neighbour Margaret Anderson, manage Food Drive

Cobourg - With the number of people depending on Fare Share Food Banks for food in 2009 growing from 1,800 per month to nearly 2,600 per month today, there is no doubt the need for non-perishables is a constant. At Christmas 2010 a small group of residents living in the southwest region of Port Hope – Penryn Village – took it upon themselves to start a community food drive. That year, 100% of this small community participated and collected food and/or money from each home.

Originally the two organizers of the drive, Duncan MacKinnon and John Draun (both of Penryn Village at the time) thought that they would receive enough food to fill the MacKinnon station wagon. It became clear that more room was required than the MacKinnon’s Volvo would accommodate. The call went out to Northumberland Fare Share Food Banks’ manager, Peter Hills for assistance. This small group collected a considerable amount of food and money.

Today, the demand for food has thankfully NOT increased, but has plateaued. Northumberland Fare Share Food Banks’ operates solely on food and monies collected from the community, making Northumberland one dynamic, generous and giving community. From Penryn’s initial effort, Fare Share organizers have mounted seasonal Community Drives and this Easter was no different involving 15 local groups including: Social groups, Corporations, the Municipality of Port Hope, other neighbourhood challengers and for the first time ever, two grocery stores and their major suppliers.

“We have always had terrific cooperation from local grocers as they have allowed and assisted community organizers to run drives at their location”, said Fare Share communications director, Peter Gabany, “But, this Easter both Scott Davis of the Port Hope Independent and Michelle Blair of Metro Foods, Cobourg wanted their staff to be part of this initiative. All of the numbers aren’t in as yet but it is safe to say that the storage and organization of food has become an issue with the banks for the first time ever. Don't worry though, our Executive Director and his managers have found space”. The work and interest of smaller groups such as the Pathfinders of Cobourg, Highland Heights community and New Amherst are just as important and all made considerable contributions to this year’s Easter drive.

To top it all off, the little Penryn group that helped start the Community Challenge for Fare Share just reported in and their residents turned in about a half tonne of food. “What an amazing effort”, food drive organizing chair, Duncan MacKinnon, said, “I know that we met our target of participating teams, I can't wait to see if we reached our donations target”. A special thanks goes to you – the people of Cobourg and Port Hope that have the means to help us feed our friends and neighbours.