The Helping Hand Food Bank in Tillsonburg hopes the community will be generous this weekend during its Fall Into Food Drive.
From 9 am to 3 pm on Saturday, Sept. 30, the food bank is encouraging the community to drop off unexpired non-perishable food items at their 131-B Rolph Street facility, using the rear door.
“Come to the very back door where our loading dock is on Saturday and we’ll have volunteers help unload,” said Dianne Clark, Helping Hand coordinator, noting the number of people using the food bank has greatly increased.
Food bank shelves are getting very bare, she said.
“So we really need people to contribute. They need to be generous, even though, I know, money is tight. They need to think of other people’s needs as well.”
Holding the annual fall food drive on Sept. 30 will allow the food bank to be ready for Thanksgiving.
“We want to be able to have supplies in their hands, in their cupboards, in their fridges, so that for them Thanksgiving is not a further addition to all the struggles that they have – they will be able to have a relaxing and happy Thanksgiving .”
A long list of items needed at the food bank can be found on the front page of their website at tillsonburgfoodbank.com. It includes cereals, canned foods (including soups, vegetables, and fruit), soup, rice, flour, peanut butter and jam, and more.
“Boxed goods, canned goods, personal care items, laundry, everything…. that is not outdated.”
Financial donations are also accepted – and important. The food bank hopes to receive more than 10,000 pounds of food Saturday, which represents about half of what they distribute every month.
People are invited to tour the food bank on the 30thsee the shelves and ask questions.
“It’s not a big open house, but we’re saying ‘come on in and see us, and ask questions’ – we want people to understand what the food bank is all about.”
CRAM THE CRUISER
Oxford OPP Auxiliary are holding a Cram the Cruiser event Saturday, Sept. 30 at Metro Tillsonburg in support of the Helping Hand Food Bank.
“If people don’t have time to come to us Saturday with donations, they can certainly go to Metro and buy some bags to get crammed into a cruiser,” said Clark.