Keene kids help Cram-A-Cruiser for local food bank
Kids were jumping to grab bags of food from Hiawatha Police Const. Terry Rose’s police cruiser for the fourth annual Cram-A-Cruiser food drive at the Keene United Church Food Cupboard Wednesday.
Cram-A-Cruiser food drive was created through the partnership of North Shore Public School and Otonabee South Monaghan (OSM) Food Cupboard, with assistance from the Ontario Provincial Police.
The food drive was held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event started at North Shore Public School where the kids helped load the police cruiser with food items to bring over to the church.
“It is a way of topping off things for the summer but also it creates awareness among the school community that we have food coverage and that we are trying to help families that don’t have that,” said Joan DiFruscia, cochair of the Food Cupboard.
A junior kindergarten class and a Grade 5 class were participating in this year's food drive. The kids went around to each and every classroom on multiple occasions in order to collect food items for the drive, explained DiFruscia.
“I want another bag to carry,” one student said, as Rose was handing out bags of food from the back of his cruiser.
During the event, the students will be helping sort the food and Peterborough Public Health will be on hand to help educate the students on proper nutrition and why it is so important to have regular food drives.
“These events show the spirit of generosity that lives in our community who, along with our staff and volunteers, help make the Food Cupboard a success,” said DiFruscia.
DiFruscia explained how there is an increasing demand for the food services at the Food Cupboard in Otonabee, as many families and individuals rely on it to help offset their dietary costs.
Donations made to the Food Cupboard go towards helping up to 20 local families and individuals, she said. Donations also go towards the school breakfast program at North Shore Public School.