Food bank ready for another busy Christmas
Project SHARE has kicked off its annual Christmas program, which last year provided food and gifts to 4,400 people.
“I’ve been told it’s the most stressful time of year if you feel you don’t have enough for your children,” said Diane Corkum, executive director for the Niagara Falls food bank.
“We’re so grateful that we’re here to be able to work with donor families. We have families that call us and say we’d like to sponsor a family. We had a family the other day that wants to provide a Christmas tree on top of everything else, so we’ll find a family that doesn’t have a Christmas tree and they’re willing to do decorations.”
Corkum said registration for the Christmas program began Monday, and staff have already started stocking a toy room at the Stanley Avenue facility.
“I have had parents tell me that they really would have no other place to go, so it’s a need that’s well established in the community, and we certainly want to be there to help, and we are there to help. We think it’s a great partnership between willing donors and recipients.”
Corkum said the food bank is trying to become “more aware of other cultures,” so while they still provide turkeys, they also provide vouchures for those to make their own food choices.
“We provide food for our holiday dinner … and toys for each child up to the age of 16 — toys and some clothing. We have books coming and pyjamas.”
She said Project SHARE always finds a way to “meet the need,” crediting the support of local residents and businesses.
“We dip into our resources if we don’t get enough donations because people are tapped as well, but we really find that at Christmas they open their hearts, and everybody kind of pitches in.”
Corkum said there will be some upcoming events to benefit the program, including a north versus south event during the first weekend of December at Food Basics and Canadian Tire stores, and the annual Good News Breakfast Challenge, where schools and businesses collect food, toys and Canadian Tire money in support of their Christmas program.
All proceeds go to helping families in need, while the top three businesses and schools will be awarded a prize.
The challenge culminates with a breakfast Dec. 8 at the Best Western Cairn Croft on Lundy’s Lane.
To support Project SHARE’s Christmas program, people can drop off donations at the food bank’s Stanley Avenue location, or in drop-off bins at grocery stores.
Those interested in sponsoring a family can call the food bank at 905-357-5121.
For more information about the program, and about the most needed donations, visit projectshare.ca/christmas-program. rspiteri@postmedia.com twitter.com/rayspiteri