Barrie Food Bank kicks off Thanksgiving Food Drive

The Barrie Food Bank is gearing up for harvest time and Thanksgiving.

Among its bounty this year, 10,000 pounds of corn on the cob donated by Chappell Farms, part of 125,000 pounds of fresh produce the food bank receives. 

But there's still a long list of items required to feed those in need. 

"Whatever you're putting in your grocery cart, we need it at the food bank," said executive director Peter Sundborg, offering simple advice for shoppers who want to help. 

This year's drive is called “A Community Where No One is Hungry” and Sundborg says thanks to the caring generosity of our community this vision is becoming a reality.

In this past year, 3,180 families, 5,862 children, 288 Seniors, 984 first time users and thousands of individual people used the food bank services. 

"The need is actually leveling out. In the last couple of years, we haven't seen a drop but we've seen a leveling out of numbers of people using the food bank," said Sundborg. 

"That could mean that they have moved,  found employment and don't need the food bank or they've gone back to school. Unfortunately we never know that."

Three years ago there was a 36 percent increase in the usage of the food bank with 10,000 more visits than the previous year.

Sundborg attributes that bump to the fact that the food bank is a welcoming, friendly and warm environment which brought more people forward.

This year's goal is to raise 150,000 pounds of food and $100,000.00 in donations which will replenish shelves and finances in order to meet the demand.

The organization distributes close 80,000 pounds of food each month.

"We are so grateful to the businesses, churches, schools, service groups and individuals who give so generously to make such a difference in so many lives," said Sundborg. 

The food bank's mission is two-fold: supply food to people in need and get them back on their feet.

"We help people in need and help them on the road to self sufficiency, encouraging people to get their grade 12, get their resume fixed up, address their health issues," he said. 

Most needed foods are peanut butter, canned fruit and vegetables, can tuna and luncheon meats, pasta and pasta sauce, juice, juice boxes, baby food, diapers size 5 & 6, jam & honey, school snacks, rice, condiments, breakfast cereal, oatmeal, mayonnaise, flour and toiletries.

Drop off points are at any local grocery store including Zehrs, Loblaws, Metro, Sobeys, Foodland Stroud, Food Basics, Freshco, Costco, the Wholsale Club  and No Frills or at the Barrie Food Bank, 42 Anne St south Unit 2,  behind Pioneer Family Pools, Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm and Saturdays October 7th and 14th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Financial donations can be mailed to Barrie Food Bank, P.O. Box 145, Barrie, Ontario, L4M 4S9, or deliver to 42 Anne St south Unit 2. On-line donations can be made at www.barriefoodbank.org Tax receipts are provided.

The Food Bank will distribute 52,000 paper bags on Thursday in the weekly newspaper for donations.