Donation to launch meal program, first pet food bank
Cynthia Cantarutti owned six rescue pets of her own and often expressed compassion as a longtime nurse at Windsor Regional Hospital’s Met campus.
So, it was only fitting that her primary caregiver — who received an inheritance from Cantarutti after she died earlier this year at the age of 55 following a lengthy battle with cancer — has decided to help open Windsor’s first-ever pet food bank and launch a new meal program to be operated by non-profit group Feeding Windsor.
The caregiver, who asked not to be recognized, last week presented the local food help program with a $30,000 cheque in honour of Cantarutti.
“The lady has been very familiar with Feeding Windsor and already a friend, so when she was blessed with this (inheritance), it was in her heart to help us,” said Rodger Fordham, co-ordinator for the group which helps feed those in need across Windsor.
“There was also a real soft spot because anything related to pets was super important to Cynthia.”
The funds in Cantarutti’s name will be used to launch a new eastend food club program, likely to be located at New Song Church in the 900 block of Drouillard Road pending final approval from the church’s board of directors.
Donated funds will also be used to launch the city’s first-ever pet food bank in the same location.
“(The donor) was Cynthia’s best friend and caregiver and really wanted to do something that would honour her memory,” Fordham said.
It’s been shown how pets can truly aid those suffering financially or mentally, while also helping prevent against isolation, he said.
Fordham has watched those in need actually show up to food banks and sometimes feed their pet first before themselves.
“Pets can live 10 or 15 years,” Fordham said. “An owner might suddenly get hit with troubles or lose their job and look at being forced to give up their pet.
“This is something we can do to help that pet stay with them. A pet can often be someone’s best coping mechanism.”
Feeding Windsor will also use the donation to launch a Ford City area “food club” where those who join can be able to buy food at a huge discount.
“It will be like market where there is produce, bread, eggs and lunch meat,” Fordham said. “They will be able to spend $25 and take away $50 of food. It leverages their money.
“It will be huge for this neighbourhood. Having these two programs will be phenomenal because they were non-existent before in the community.”
Fordham is big on the idea of “food empowerment” programs where there are not just handouts to those in need, but instead helps people gain a sense of pride and ownership by making food and spending choices of their own.
“The idea of meet me every day and get fed for free has to go,” he said.
“The person just wakes up the next day hungry again. This way, people get to learn and participate in their own food security.”
Fordham expects both programs triggered by Cantarutti’s legacy will be up and running by Thanksgiving weekend.