CP Holiday Train Helping RFDA – Let No One Go Hungry
THUNDER BAY – News – $13,000 dollars and 1,100 kilograms might sound like a lot. Now think of shopping for hundreds of people to help fight hunger. Last night the CP Holiday Train helped raise money, gather food and equally important raise awareness. By February, the shelves at the local food bank will look like an empty place. People however are hungry year round.
However the holiday season is a key time. For many people spending Christmas without food is a sharp contrast to what some have in “being hungry”. On Christmas Day for many, being hungry means a third helping of that amazing dressing with gravy. A far cry from that many in our city go through.
RFDA Steps Up!
The Regional Food Distribution Association Board with its mandate “let no one go hungry in our midst” will attempt to do what it can to fill the need to make a hopeful and brighter Christmas for seniors and singles. To many of this group, the daily support, year round, with prepared meals is met through our member agencies of the RFDA that are feeding programs. These include Shelter House, Dew Drop Inn, the Salvation Army Soup Van, and Grace Place. These services offer a safe place not only to be fed but also an important aspect and that of socializing and interacting with other people such as the volunteers and staff who provide care and support as they can. Each location compassionately provides a special Christmas meal some with festivities and treats, to the people who come under their care . Also, Meals on Wheels provides a service to many who are restricted to their residences.
RFDA Rallying to Assist Seniors and Singles
With some of its partner community agencies RFDA is rallying to provide assistance to seniors and singles who are more independent. The time to organize this is incredibly short but we will muster our resources to respond to this situation. Most of the singles and seniors who can ask for extra assistance at Christmas will already be people who look to their local food banks on a monthly basis and December is not an exception. Because almost all of these food banks are members of the RFDA, we will be have a central registration by phone through 211. Distribution of an augmented or supplemental portion of Christmas items to the standard hampers for these individuals will occur at their local food banks. Only those registered will receive the supplemental portion. Administering the registration centrally will ensure that each person in need receives their supplemental items closer to where they live. This will mean that transportation concerns are minimized as those needing the service will visit a food bank in their area. This supplemental portion will not be an additional hamper but rather an addition to the normal December hamper allocation.
REGISTRATION PROCESS AND QUESTIONS FOR SINGLES AND SENIORS FOR AN AUGMENTED OR SUPPLEMENTED DECEMBER HAMPER THROUGH RFDA IN THE CITY OF THUNDER BAY AND RURAL AREAS- Registrations only from Wednesday December 4th until Tuesday December 10th.
How can you help fight hunger?
The citizens, businesses and farmers of Thunder Bay and area have been very generous to the RFDA throughout the year. The City of Thunder Bay, District Social Service, United Way, Rotary Clubs, schools and many others have continued to support our work. We will need your donations and your involvement as volunteers at our food banks and directly at the RFDA as we pick up this important need to make sure all our citizens are treated specially in this festive season. Thank you all for your continued support.
What will be in the supplemental food allocation? The RFDA will be making up packages for individuals so that if there is an allergy or particular food concern this will be addressed. Generally we will not be doing turkeys because these are just a huge piece of meat for a single or senior and some will not have the cooking facilities for these. A small ham, oranges, cookies, soups and crackers, Christmas treats, cereal and other such items will be what we are packaging. Our ability to respond will depend on the public support donations , and good will.
Larry Brigham
RFDA, Board Member
Committee: 2013 Emergency Holiday Hamper Coordinator
Donations are accepted from 8:30-5, Monday to Friday, at 570 South Syndicate Ave. With your help, this winter we can ensure that we will “Let No One Go Hungry In Our Midst.”
Related articles
