South Grenville Food for All Food Banks will be hoping to have more fresh options.
Executive Director Bonnie Pidgeon Cougler says they will be having a focus of more fresh choices in the upcoming months. Cougler says there are multiple ways to do that including the plant a row, grow a row.
“So this is the time of year you’re thinking about your garden. Would you consider planting an extra row or an extra half a row for the food bank, so that in the fall harvest you can donate? Because we do take fresh, we have a walk-in fridge and freezer.”
In the meantime, items like Manwich mix, canned food, peanut butter, cereal, juice and rice are needed.
The Food for All Food Banks are located in Prescott (136 Henry Street West), Cardinal Public Library and Spencerville United Church. Between all three locations, Cougler says an astonishing 980 individuals registered for the food bank last year. She says they may have used the food bank once or multiple times and about 38-percent of that number was children under the age of 16.
The Touch-a-truck event brought in $150 cash and canned food donations. Cougler thanks Katie Forrester and the Town of Prescott.
Cougler says about 50-percent of the budget was made this past Christmas campaign. The budget is usually around $110,000 to $120,000 each year. She says it really was because of the community that they made it through January and February which are crucial months. Cougler thanks everyone involved with the campaign.
Cougler adds people can also donate empty cans for the sustainable project “Bottles for Babies.” The focus is to always have money for baby formula, diapers and milk for children. The program has expanded to help seniors or someone suffering from a major surgery to receive Ensure. People can drop off the cans at the Prescott location.
Monday is the annual general meeting for the food bank. It will be held at the Prescott food bank at seven. Contact Cougler at 613-925-2444 extension 2 for more details.