City woman aiding Christmas effort
A Peterborough woman is filling banana boxes with toys and food to donate to The Salvation Army’s Christmas campaign.
Frieda Rutherford launched Banana Box Blitz at the end of October. It’s her third year running the drive locally for Hope for All Seasons, The Army’s annual Christmas campaign.
“I think it’s terrible that a city the size of this has so many hungry people,” Rutherford said of why she keeps it up.
The west-end resident ran a similar drive in Winnipeg for more than 20 years with her granddaughter.
When she moved back to Peterborough four years ago, she decided to keep that ball rolling.
After a battle with cancer, Rutherford said she wanted to do what she was passionate about: Helping the homeless. “I figure God’s given me a second chance at life, I just want to do what makes me happy.”
The Banana Box Blitz started with a box in Corner Cafe at Brookdale Plaza. Her friend owns the restaurant and also let Rutherford host a turkey dinner fundraiser at the cafe last year. They had two seatings, serving about 80 people. The dinner raised $1,000 for Hope for All Seasons.
In 2016, Rutherford managed to fill 17 banana boxes. Last year, donations filled 25 boxes.
Only a few weeks into her blitz, Rutherford has already filled 29 boxes that are piled in her spare room.
“If I can fill it right to the top, that’s great.”
Banana Box Blitz runs on word of mouth and there are boxes at various locations in town. In the Brookdale Plaza on Chemong Rd., goods can be dropped off at Magicuts, Corner Cafe, or Finders Keepers Liquidation.
There’s also a box in the city hospital’s birthing ward on A6 and one at Dr. Nichols office on Lansdowne St. by Shoppers Drug Mart.
Anyone who donates can fill out a ballot for one of two draws. Prizes include a foot spa, tool box and blankets.
There’ll also be five names drawn at this year’s turkey dinner. It takes place Dec. 2 at Immaculate Conception Parish Hall on Rogers St, running from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
The turkeys are donated by Robson’s Acres near in Millbrook and Corner Cafe staff volunteer their time to serve along with some of Rutherford’s neighbours.
“It’s not just me,” Rutherford said of the blitz. “I have a lot of support in it and a lot of help and I’m grateful for that.”