Food drive taking different path
Stratford and area fundraiser for Upper Room goes Saturday via a drive-thru format
The 30th annual Stratford and Area Food Drive will have a new look when it takes place on Saturday, Nov. 14.
Normally, the food drive, which is organized by Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, would see more than 200 volunteers going door-to-door on upwards of 40 routes.
The food drive encompasses the town to the River Meadows subdivision in Mermaid to the Mount Albion Irving to Pownal and all points in between.
However, this year, due to public health restrictions around the COVID-19 pandemic, the volunteer effort has been forced to rework the setup to a drive-thru method in order to continue supporting the Upper Room Food Bank.
The Stratford and Area Food Drive is the Upper Room’s second largest fundraiser.
This year, about 70 volunteers will be divided between the following five parking lot drive-thru locations between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.:
• Our Lady of Assumption, 145 Stratford Rd.;
• Stratford Town Hall, 234 Shakespeare Dr.;
• Kinlock Crossing, 14 Kinlock Rd.;
• Fox Meadow Golf Course, 167 Kinlock Rd.;
• Stratford and Area Lions Club, at the Mason Road and Stratford roundabout.
In addition, food collection boxes have been placed in the entryway of 48 apartment buildings and will be picked up on the morning of Nov. 14 for delivery to the Upper Room Food Bank.
Non-perishable food or monetary donations are appreciated.
Demand is high at the Upper Room, and it is anticipated the need will increase as the fall and winter progress.
In October, 592 families (representing 1,624 individuals) utilized the Food Bank.
At the Upper Room’s Soup Kitchen, 3,908 meals were served.
The past month’s figures are significantly higher than the same period last year.