Canada’s Ag Day a time celebrate KFA’s longtime support of local food banks

The Kent Federation of Agriculture has a long relationship with local food banks that involves sharing the bounty of what’s produced in Chatham-Kent.

That partnership was celebrated Wednesday during the annual Canada’s Ag Day through a collection of food and cash donations for the Outreach for Hunger and Salvation Army Chatham-Kent Community and Family Services food banks.

With skyrocketing food prices and growing demand, that partnership is more important than ever for local food banks.

Outreach for Hunger executive director Brenda LeClair couldn’t believe her eyes when year-end statistics showed about 8,000 families came through the doors in 2022, which was an increase of 48 per cent.

“I’ve never seen an increase like that,” she said. “We’ve always been very busy, but to almost double our annual numbers. . . I thought I’d made a mistake.”

She said non-sheltered residents are also having an impact because the food bank tries to provide them fruit or a protein bar on a daily basis to help them get by.

“This year isn’t slowing down,” said LeClair, adding the food bank is still seeing 30 to 40 new families a month.

She said Chatham-Kent is a very generous community that continues to help Outreach for Hunger meet the growing need for food donations.

The local federation purchases ground pork or fresh fruits and vegetables from area producers to donate to the food banks to help throughout the year, president Brad Snobelen said.

“A source of protein has always been a challenge for the food banks,” he said.

In the past, the Kent federation has gone to Roesch Meats to buy and package ground pork to make donations three or four times throughout the year to try help keep up the supply of protein.

Having a consistent supply is something food banks like, which is why cash donations are generally earmarked for these purchases, Snobelen said.

He said quite a few producers, such as greenhouses that have supply all year, make donations regularly.

“We’ve helped organize that, being that we knew the producers and have solicited those donations,” Snobelen said.

Fresh, locally grown produce is always in demand, he noted.

“We’re fortunate in Chatham-Kent to have these types of operations here,” he said.

LeClair said both the fresh protein and local produce is important for families served by the food bank.

Although they get plenty of canned tuna and salmon donated, it’s “a real blessing or us to have” something people can use to make a meal or put in their spaghetti sauce, she said.

“There’s so much nutrition in fresh produce, and the families have that opportunity to sit down with their kids and help prepare it,” LeClair said.

She said the important of agriculture extends beyond the fresh protein and produce.

“We wouldn’t even have what’s in those canned goods if it wasn’t for agriculture,” LeClair said.