Buses and boxes will be set up outside several grocery stores across Chatham-Kent on Saturday to collect donations for local food banks.
CK Helping Hands is leading the “Fill the Bus” and “Fill the Box” fundraisers that began during the pandemic and are held multiple times a year.
Tim Haskell, of CK Helping Hands, said the latest statistics from Chatham Hunger Relief Food Bank showed the number of people seeking help locally continues to grow.
“We’re trying to raise awareness for food banks across Chatham-Kent. [Outreach for Hunger] “Nobody has those numbers,” Haskell said. “Everything would have increased over the past year.”
Outreach for Hunger reports it has assisted 2,755 people every four to six weeks so far in 2024. That's up from 2,316 people it assisted every four to six weeks in 2023.
Haskell said anything donated locally stays within the area it is donated to.
“I'm sure [the food banks] “They will also need funds, so if you can donate directly to them they would be happy to receive it,” Haskell said.
Donations will be collected on Saturday, June 1st from 8am or 9am to 2pm at the following locations:
Chatham
Real Canadian Superstore, Food Basics/Dollar Tree, No Frills, Giant Tiger, Sobeys
Blenheim
Sobeys
Ridgetown
Foodland
Wallaceburg
No Frills, Dollar Tree
Tilbury
No frills. No pleats.
Dresden
North Dresden Baptist Church (182 Trerice Street West)
The organization plans to hold its next “Fill the Bus” event on Aug. 17 as a back-to-school food donation drive.
