http://www.niagarathisweek.com/community/article/898533--welland-food-drive-starts
Right now someone in your community is starving. It could be your neighbour. It could be the person sitting next to you at the doctor’s office. It might even be a close friend.
With plant closures and lay-offs in Welland the number of people struggling to put food on their tables has risen, says Gina Couldery, food security co-ordinator at the Hope Centre. She says hunger is something no Canadian should have to face.
“In this rich country no one should go hungry, but we see new faces coming into the food bank every day,” she says. “There has been an increase for need.”
Couldery says the Hope Centre’s food bank is almost empty and they have been “anxiously waiting for the food drive to restock their shelves.”
The 19th annual Welland food drive is November 6th. Welland residents are asked to place non-perishable food donations on their steps by 10am for volunteers to collect. All the food is dropped off at Auberge Richelieu and is divided between the Hope Centre, The Salvation Army and the Open Arms Mission.
It is a volunteer based event and there is support not only from the community, but local businesses.
John Craig, owner of three Welland Tim Hortons restaurants, has been supporting the food drive “right from day one.”
“I’m a firm believer in the food drive,” he says. “As a business you support your community because the community supports you.”
He says with “so many people out of work” the food drive is necessary.
“Things cost so much more today just to keep a family going. Everyone needs to help out a little bit.”
Monique Finley, food drive co-ordinator, says she doesn’t know what the food drive committee would do without the support of Tim Hortons.
“Tim Hortons owners in the Welland area are major supporters of not only the food drive but of the community in general,” she says. “We have counted on their support for 20 years however their generosity has hit new heights over the past two years.”
The November food drive is the main food collection event for the entire year. The food collected helps sustain all three food banks in Welland until about April. Most needed items are: canned meats, fruits and vegetables, school snacks, juices, pasta and rice. For more information call (905) 714-9151
or visit http://www.wellandfooddrive.com/
Published in Niagara This Week(Welland Edition)
November 4, 2010
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