Food banks, politicians urge community to help the hungry

National Hunger Awareness Week has drawn to a close, but Windsor’s Unemployed Help Centre and provincial politicians say it’s still imperative that the community make donations to area food banks.

“If you think Canadians aren’t hungry — think again,” said June Muir, CEO of the Unemployed Help Centre and president of the Windsor Essex Food Bank Association.

The centre acts as a hub for 15 different food banks in the city and region. Muir said the centre serves approximately 3,000 people per month in need of food and basic hygiene products.

“We have a lot of working poor,” Muir noted. “We’ve got youth, we’ve got seniors.

“If you work a minimum wage job and you have children, trying to keep up is very difficult.”

On Friday — the final day of National Hunger Awareness Week — Windsor MPPs Percy Hatfield and Lisa Gretzky visited the centre to help sort food donations.

The results of a food drive by Transit Windsor and office staff at the centre yielded boxes of canned tuna and soups, jam, crackers, cereal, tomato sauce, dry pasta, snacks for children, toothpaste and more.

“Everything helps,” Muir said. “One can to 50 cans.”

Muir said she was shocked last week to learn that Statistics Canada census data showed Windsor-Essex has the highest rate in Canada of children growing up in low-income households.

Anyone who would like to make a donation to the Unemployed Help Centre food store is encouraged to call 519-944-4900.

Anyone who needs food can visit the centre at 6955 Cantelon Dr., Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

There is a short intake process for food bank clients, but Muir said the centre doesn’t turn people away. “We’re trying to break down that barrier where they’re intimidated or they don’t want anyone to know they use a food bank.

“There’s no reason why anyone should go hungry in Canada.”

Hatfield said his favourite canned good is Brunswick sardines, a good protein source. “I grew up in the East Coast. Sardines were often for lunch.”

Gretzky said she likes to donate canned beans, a versatile and nutritional dish.

“Peanut butter is another good item to donate,” Gretzky said. “It’s got lots of protein, and it’s something food banks don’t often get.”

JASON KRYK Lynda Davidson, left, Mike Turnbull, June Muir, Percy Hatfield and Lisa Gretzky sort through donated food items on Friday during Hunger Awareness Week at the Unemployed Help Centre in Windsor. The facility operates as the hub for 15 food banks...