Local residents stepped up to ‘Fill the Bus’ to help replenish the shelves at Chatham Outreach for Hunger.
About $5,000 worth of food, along with nearly $1,000 in cash and gift card donations were collected Saturday as the second Fill the Bus event was held at five grocery stores in Chatham – Real Canadian Superstore, Sobeys, Food Basics, Giant Tiger and No Frills.
Chatham Outreach for Hunger executive director Brenda LeClair the initiative “is a big shot in the arm for us.”
The food bank typically experiences a drop in donations during the summer, because people are away on vacation, however, not so much in the last two years during the pandemic, she added.
“We just want to remind people that hunger does not take the summer off,” LeClair said.
She also wants to remind residents with gardens if “your tomatoes or cucumbers start coming on faster than you can use them, we’re happy to take those as well.”
Tim Haskell, one of the six organizers, said Chatham-Kent is “one of those communities you’re glad you live in, because you know the residents are going to step up and help us out.”
He said the other organizers – James Benoit, Amy Finn, Darlene Rylett, Vicki Walters, Robert Francis – are all volunteers from other charity groups in the community who have decided to dedicate some time to help the local food bank.
Haskell said as the cost of living soars higher, including rent and fuel prices, many people are having a tough time.
“It’s even more important to take care of each other,” he said.
Haskell said organizers appreciate the support of First Student Bus Company for supplying the five buses used to collect donations.
He said they plan to hold another Fill the Bus event near the end of summer that will focus on collecting food items for back to school as well as supplies.
LeClair said the food bank has seen an increase in clients during the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily with people working in the service industry or another jobs impacted by lockdown measures.
“COVID definitely had an effect as well as an effect on donations coming in,” she said.
During COVID, she said Outreach for Hunger also began the non-shelter bags for the homeless. She said homeless folks can come to the food bank daily and receive an apple, cereal bar and a bottle of Ensure for some extra nourishment.
Although pandemic restrictions have lifted, LeClair said the numbers haven’t dropped down yet, adding the people impacted need to catch up on bills.
“It will be awhile I think before we can actually say we’ve seen an improvement.”