Imagine you had to choose between paying your utility bill or buying groceries for your family.
Unfortunately, for many in Welland, this is not a make believe scenario. It is a brutal reality.
“Many people in our city are feeling the pressure,” says Hope Centre’s food security co-ordinator, Gina Couldery. “The high cost of living is creating stress for everyone.”
Salvation Army director of community and family services, Cheryl Moore, agrees.
“There are job losses and wage decreases happening in our community,” she says. “This makes it hard for many.”
Because of loss of income more people in Welland are turning to the city’s three main food banks for survival.
The Hope Centre, Salvation Army and Open Arms Mission provide non-perishable grocery items to those in need, and right now their shelves are nearly empty. But on November 6th the community has the opportunity to stock the food bank shelves and help put food on tables across Welland.
“We rely heavily on this food drive,” says Couldery. She says it would be “devastating and scary for our community if it didn’t exist. The food drive replenishes our shelves again.”
The annual Welland food drive is a one day event run entirely by volunteers within the community. Residents are asked to place non-perishable food donations on their doorsteps by 10am and volunteers canvass the city collecting it all. Donations are sorted and divided between the food banks at Club Richelieu.
“Getting the community together to help one another is one of the best feelings,” says Couldery. “It’s amazing. We have a wonderful community. There is so much support for the food banks. We’re blessed.”
Tim Albrecht, pastoral care advisor at Open Arms Mission, says the November food drive is necessary for the survival of the food banks.
“The food drive brings in the majority of the food for the year,” he says. “This November food drive supplies us until about April. We appreciate any help that the community can give us.”
Items most needed by the food banks are school snacks, juices, pasta, sauces, peanut butter, canned meat, fruit, vegetables and rice. Albrecht says there are other items not always thought of that can make a difference in a person’s life too.
“We also have a hygiene program,” he says. “We are always in need of hygiene products such as shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, razors, deodorant; those type of things as well.”
Couldery says anything an individual may use on a daily basis is needed.
“People are very generous with food donations, but may not think of those necessary items we all use to take care of ourselves,“ she says. “ For example, we take deodorant ,shampoo, tooth paste and tooth brushes . That’s all important too.”
Those interested in volunteering for the food drive can call (905) 714-9151 or visit www.wellandfooddrive.com
Published by the Welland Tribune- October 27, 2010
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