Moment in Mission – Food Drive
Every once in a while at our house, we open the fridge and wonder what we are going to have for dinner. This sometimes occurs when the usual array of fresh fruits, vegetables, cheese, milk and eggs used to complement a full pantry and a well-stocked freezer are running low.
When this happens we usually go to the grocery store, decide that it’s time to go out for a meal to ease our busy schedules or really be lazy and order dinner in. I can’t really remember a time that we decided to just go hungry and I certainly know that I have never thought about visiting the food bank to restock my food supply. I am guessing that this is probably the same for the majority of you.
Each year, 3 million pounds of emergency food is distributed from “The Food Bank of Waterloo Region” to neighbours in our community. An article featured in “The Record” this past Thursday, September 24 indicated that last year, 35,000 local residents needed food support. This number is a 36% increase since 2008. Why is this the case? For some, lack of affordable housing means that families are forced to choose between a roof over their heads or being well nourished. For others low wage employment, underemployment or unemployment mean that they cannot make ends meet. Others have physical or mental disabilities that prevent them from earning a decent wage and others have insufficient pensions. All of these factors lead many in our community to seek emergency, short term food assistance.
Donations to “The Food Bank of Waterloo Region” are used to provide emergency food hampers, as well as to serve community meals and to support residential programs.
With this in mind, the Missions Committee would like to support the Food Bank with a “Thanksgiving Food Drive” which will begin next Sunday, October 4 and continue until Sunday, October 18. You can help by donating non-perishable food items, including canned meat, fish, beans in sauce, peanut butter, pasta, pasta sauce, cold cereal, rice, canned fruit and canned vegetables. These donated food items can be placed on a table in the lobby and will be delivered to the food bank at the end of the drive. If you would prefer to donate money, please feel free to make a donation. I have a form that I can complete for you which will allow you to receive a tax receipt.
Please consider contributing to this worthy cause. Together we can indeed make a difference.
Thank you.
Submitted by Pat Klassen
