PORCH PIRATES FOR GOOD

About 40 businesses donated more than 1,863 pounds of nonperishable food items collected from the Porch Pirates For Good business challenge food drive supporting Kawartha Food Share on Friday.

The food drive continued Saturday with the idea that donors can safely leave food donations on their porches that morning for collection.

By Saturday, a record 48,588 pounds of non-perishable food had been collected for the event.

It’s a twist on “porch pirate” which refers to the growing trend of thieves stealing packages from porches or doorsteps with the increase in online shopping, food drive co-organizer Megan Murphy said.

“I thought this is kind of what we are doing, but for good because people are going to be leaving their goods outside and on their porches or front steps,” Murphy said.

Food drives help support people who might be having a hard time, she said.

“We did one last March and in October,” Murphy said. “We have raised over 41,000 pounds of food and over $5,000 in monetary donations.”

Food donating has changed since the pandemic began because people do not see food insecurity issues as much, they did before because people are spending more time at home now.

“People aren’t going out the same way and they are having their groceries delivered to their homes or they are doing the pickups,” Murphy said.

CLIFFORD SKARSTEDT PHOTOS EXAMINER Megan Murphy, left, accepts donations from Cathy Speck during the citywide Porch Pirates For Good food drive.

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Volunteers unload donations collected from residents during the Porch Pirates For Good food drive on Saturday.