Local food bank in need of juice, pasta and riceDURHAM -- No child should ever go to school hungry, says an executive member of a local food bank.
But this has been happening more and more in Ajax and Pickering and the St. Paul's on-the-Hill Community Food Bank's Thanksgiving Drive, which will run until Oct. 14, hopes to help this problem.
"This is to sustain us for the whole year," said executive member Donna Cook. "This is what we rely on."
The food bank has been providing food for hungry families in Pickering and Ajax for the past 17 years. Open all year round, more than 50 volunteers currently keep the food bank on its feet, many of whom continuously donate themselves. And although staff thanks the generous donors in Ajax and Pickering, the food bank is finding itself struggling to feed all of west Durham's hungry stomachs.
"We're out of pasta," said director Rae Coulter. "We haven't been out of pasta in 17 years."
Other items the bank needs include rice, canned meat and tuna, peanut butter, cereal, Kraft Dinner, flour, canned fruit and children's snacks.
Ms. Cook stressed the importance of donating food that has not reached its expiry date, and hasn't been opened. She said they want the families who use the food bank to have dignity.
"If it's not good enough for you, then the poor don't want it," she said. "Give what you would eat."
In September, nearly 200 families used the food bank, which fed almost 550 people. Ms. Cook explained more than 2,200 families use the food bank each year and it feeds more than 7,000 people.
The food bank spends $500 each week on groceries, buying fresh food, such as eggs, but has to pay retail price like everybody else, and roughly $2,000 in rent per month at Parkway Storage.
"Our client base is building and we need more food," Ms. Cook said.
The food drive is non-denominational and any family can benefit from it by providing government papers (such as Social Assistance), income and something to prove that every family member lives at the same address. They then receive a card which allows them to pick up their food boxes twice a month. The size of the basket depends on the amount and ages of family members.
Fast facts
Anyone interested in donating non-perishable food items can do so at:
- Any grocery store in Pickering
- Both Sobey's stores in Ajax
- Pickering and Ajax fire halls
- 1537 Pickering Pkwy. (open each Tuesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon for donations and 10 a.m. to noon for pick-up). It's closed each first full week of the month.
- St. Paul's On-the-Hill Anglican Church at 882 Kingston Rd.
Those interested in volunteering can call 905-839-9537.
