The Regional Food Distribution Association’s annual Senior, Singles, and Couples Food Hamper Program is back.
The program supports those in need who do not have any kids.
“The idea is to cover the segment of our population that is not covered by Christmas Cheer,” explained RFDA President June Gaw. “These are people in need who do not have children and as such cannot receive from Christmas Cheer.”
The program started accepting requests for assistance on Monday through 211.
Those in need can reach out to 211 to request a hamper.
Requests will be accepted until November 25.
211 manages all requests and handles delivering information to those receiving hampers.
“The need has increased right across the city, well we know it’s increased right across the country,” explained Gaw. “The newest release from the Food Banks, Canada up to two million people are in need now of food coming to food banks, so the need has increased exponentially right across our city, across the region, across the province, so we do expect many more hamper inquiries this year than last year.”
Volunteers from local community organizations will be accepting donations for the hampers at No Frills, County Fair Plaza, on Saturday, November 9 from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and at Metro, River Street, on Saturday, November 23, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Volunteers will be letting people know which items are most needed and collecting food and monetary donations at the exits.
A focus for the RFDA is ensuring that the hampers are well-balanced and healthy.
“Many fresh vegetables and fruits as well as packaged items and dry foods and also we include a ham so that they are able to use it,” said Gaw. “Many people don’t have an oven, so a ham is much more practical to put in their hampers.”
Some other foods that can be found in the hampers are cereal, oatmeal, Craft Dinner, pasta, pasta sauce, peanut butter, canned soups, canned vegetables, canned fruit, pancake syrup, pancake sauce, pancake mix, stove top stuffing, boxes of potatoes, as well as fresh potatoes.
Fresh vegetables and fruits are not added to the hampers until right before distribution day to ensure freshness.
Another little addition to the hampers is a little Christmas card.
“Elementary school students are making handmade Christmas cards that will go into every hamper as well as the grade eights across the city are coming and preparing cookies and a box of homemade cookies will be put into every hamper,” said Gaw.
She added that the high school student will not be missing out on the action either.
“The final week before distribution day… The high school students will come and pack the 1600-plus hampers that we expect to be doing this year. You can feed your neighbours. You can be a hero in someone’s story. You can be a part of triumph over adversity and exclusion.”
Last year 1587 hampers were given out.
Once everything is collected it will head over to the distribution site in the Heritage Building on the CLE grounds.
On Friday, December 13, the hampers will be given out from the site between 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
People can also register to have the hamper delivered.
“We have a group of volunteers that come the Monday and Tuesday following the distribution day on the 13th and they pick up here, they go out and deliver all day right across the city to those that are registered, that need help by having (the hampers) delivered to their homes.”
This annual tradition has been running for more than 10 years, and the RFDA does not expect that to change anytime soon.
Donations can also be made online here.
