Tradition of giving continues with Pelham food drive
About 50 Pelham families are counting on their community to continue a longstanding tradition of stepping up for the Pelham Cares food bank.
Those are the families who rely on a monthly food hamper from the non-profit, which in turn relies heavily on community donations, notably during the Pelham Community Food Drive, which continues Saturday, to keep its shelves stocked.
“At this point the shelves are starting to look pretty lean,” said Pelham Cares coordinator of client services Lori Grande, explaining how the drive keeps the food bank stocked with critically needed items over the winter months.
Clients — some of whom visit once to get over a rough patch while others rely on the bank more consistently — end up turning to Pelham Cares for a variety of reasons. With budgets increasingly stretched, job loss, illness or even just an unexpected car repair can push individuals and families over the brink.
“It’s pretty consistent,” Grande said, referring to the demand for the food bank.
She said the food drive has been crucial over the 28 years it has run on the first December Saturday, after Gerry Berkhout led the charge on establishing a drive. At the time, most food drives were held in churches, but with less people attending religious services, there was a need to engage the greater community.
Since then the two local Lions clubs and Fonthill and District Kinsmen have handled collection, going door to door in the urban areas of Fonthill, Fenwick, Ridgeville and North Pelham, with drop-off sites set up across the municipality for rural residents. The roughly 200 volunteer drivers hit the road at about 9 a.m. fanning out to knock on doors, or pick up food already left out in anticipation of their visit. From there the food is transported to Rice Road Greenhouses where another 80 or so volunteers sort and box the donations bound for Pelham Cares and three Welland food banks, at Open Arms Mission, the Salvation Army and the Hope Centre.
Grande said the flurry of activity at the greenhouse is a well-organized machine.
“It feels a little chaotic, but it’s very well organized,” she said.
“It’s almost overwhelming when you see all this coming in one day. It’s amazing really, you see how generous our community is.”
Urgently needed items include canned fruits, canned stew and chili, crackers, cookies, granola bars, pudding mixes, instant coffee, gluten-free items, shampoo, conditioner, tissues and paper towels. People not in the urban catchment areas can drop off their donations at Century 21 Today Realty, the Fonthill legion hall, Rice Road Greenhouses, Clare’s Cycle, Meridian Credit Union and Star Tile Centre.
Anyone wishing to volunteer is asked to register ahead of time by calling 905-892-5300 or emailing info@pelhamcares.org.