Cereal shelves are stocked
Glace Bay native makes Kellogg’s donation possible
Officials at the Glace Bay Food Bank say for 21 years they haven’t had to buy cereal thanks to the good heart of a Glace Bay native who never forgot his roots.
Sandra MacPherson said once again Fraser MacAulay of London, Ont., has had his employer Kellogg’s donate a tractor-trailer full of cereal and cereal bars.
“It’s amazing what Fraser does for us,” MacPherson said. “In the past 20 years we haven’t had to buy cereal, not a box,” she said.
“Fraser has done so much for the citizens of Glace Bay and our food bank and the kids out there.”
An estimated 15,000 items were on the tractor-trailer.
The donation benefits not only Glace Bay and its children, but the product is shared throughout the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
“Words can’t express how grateful and appreciative we are.”
MacPherson said the donations began 21 years ago when MacAulay, who comes home annually to participate in the Vince Ryan Memorial Hockey Tournament, showed up with five or six cases of cereal. However only a few years later the donation had increased to a tractor-trailer load of product.
MacPherson said Kellogg’s donates the products but the food bank must have it transported to Cape Breton. Over the years several trucking companies have provided assistance, but for the last 10 years or more S&M Trucking has stepped up to deliver the goods.
“They just pick it up and drop the trailer off at our door, it’s amazing.”
MacPherson said about 65 people showed up Tuesday to help unload this year’s donation and stack it in the food bank.
“We had the Glace Bay High School Magic basketball team, the Relay Youth Services group, students from NSCC, our clients and volunteers who just came and jumped right in,” she said.
MacPherson said the donation includes several kinds of Kellogg’s cereals as well as cereal bars, Pringles and crackers.
She said the food is shared with food banks in North Sydney, Sydney Mines and New Waterford, the schools, nonprofit organizations including Transition House, the Salvation Army in Sydney, Town House for its meals on wheels program, the youth club in Whitney Pier as well as several daycares.
“When any of the schools or food banks need some they just call us and come and get whatever they need. We share anytime anyone needs cereal.”
She said MacAulay drops in to the food bank every year and they always look forward to seeing him.
“He is bringing someone from Kellogg’s with him this year and it will be nice to meet him.”
MacPherson said the Glace Bay Food Bank was started 33 years ago by the late Sonny Wadman with a can of beans and a can of soup on a shelf and a dream.
“Not once in that 33 years have we had to turn anyone away, we always have food to give them because of the support of the public, businesses and people like Fraser.”