NEWS RELEASE
BARRIE FOOD BANK
*************************
As Thanksgiving approaches, Barrie Food Bank is calling on our community to stretch out their hand and make a difference for families facing hunger.
According to the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, food insecurity is worsening, with nearly one in three households (30.7 per cent) in our region experiencing some level of food insecurity in 2023, a staggering statistic that highlights the growing need in our region.
The Barrie Food Bank is currently supporting over 7,000 individuals each month, 37 per cent of whom are children. As demand continues to rise, we face increasing challenges in keeping up, often needing to make difficult choices about which foods to cut in order to stretch our donations further.
This year’s campaign theme is simple yet powerful: an outstretched hand giving an apple. Barrie Food Bank invites everyone in Barrie to stretch out their hand in a gesture of kindness, symbolized by the simple act of giving food, as a reminder that even small acts of generosity can bring hope and comfort to families in need.
The goal of the campaign is to raise $250,000 and collect 150,000 pounds of food to be able to keep up with the increased demand. To help achieve this, a generous Barrie family has offered to match every dollar donated during the campaign, up to $50,000.
“With the rising cost of living and the growing issue of food insecurity, more families than ever are turning to the Barrie Food Bank for support,” says executive director Karen Shuh. “We are committed to making sure every family in our community can gather around the table and feel the warmth and comfort that Thanksgiving brings but we need your help to do so.
"This matching gift is an incredible helping hand to our community allowing us to feed more people and make a powerful impact.”
The Barrie Food Bank urges the community to extend a hand in support. Ways to support the campaign include:
- Making a secure online donation at barriefoodbank.org/donate and receive an instant tax receipt.
- Dropping off a cheque or cash at 42 Anne St. S., Barrie, during operating hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
- Donating non-perishable food items at designated bins in all local grocery stores or directly to the Barrie Food Bank.
- Organizing a food drive on behalf of your company or organization. Contact [email protected] to make arrangements for food collection bin drop off and pickup.
*************************
