We at the Tobermory Food Bank, have much to be thankful for. Leading up to and after Thanksgiving we received very generous donations from individuals, organizations and businesses.
Individuals who donate food items and monies to the Food Bank are especially generous as the busy fall season approaches. This was helped this year by Peacock’s Foodland having ready packaged grocery items available for sale that could be donated on site. The many donations we receive from individuals throughout the year keeps us going in our work to help those most in need in our community. There are many individuals who donate on a monthly basis.
We received a very large donation from the Ladies Auxiliary of Tobermory Legion that helped pay for Thanksgiving Hampers. We distributed Hampers to 26 families and 10 individuals.
Also, Summer House Park Thanksgiving Food Drive donated 108.2 kg of food and $500.00. And just recently, Friends of Bruce District Parks, as they closed up shop on Flowerpot Island, brought us 82.1 kg of concession items.
The need continues for the Tobermory Food Bank as it is with all food banks, here on Bruce Peninsula, across our province and country. It is hard to believe the first food bank in Canada was in Edmonton in 1981, followed by Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto in 1984. The opening of these food banks were to be a temporary measure. But over forty years later food banks are a part of almost every community.
The monthly data we collect at the Tobermory Food Bank reflects the ongoing need. Here are some figures from this year January to end of September:
- There were 479 household visits. One family or individual accessing the food bank is counted as a visit. These households represent 1333 individuals. Broken down, it would be 558 children, 647 adults under 65, 128 seniors (aged 65 and up). And these numbers are only for the first 9 months of the year. Given the size of the community served ( Miller Lake up to Tobermory) these are very large numbers.
- In that same time period, the amount of food taken in was 9,678 kg and the amount given out was 8,261 kg. And thanks to Peacock’s participation in Second Harvest, 4,702 kg of food was rescued from the landfill.
We are always needing volunteers, especially those willing to take a shift during our regular hours helping our clients finding what they need. New volunteers are supported by volunteers who have been with the Tobermory Food Bank for some time. If you are interested in volunteering please contact us.
If you have any questions about what we do, or how to donate or volunteer, please visit our website tobermoryfoodbank.ca or call Linda at 519-596-2333.
Written by Linda Godhue, Tobermory Food Bank Volunteer, for the Bruce Peninsula Press.