In conjunction with Montgomery Bus Lines, we are pleased to be supporting their Stuff the Bus Campaign being held on Saturday, October 11th from 10-2. The following grocery stores will have buses in their parking lots:
Lucknow
Brussels
Blyth
Wingham Foodland
Wingham Valumart
A huge thank you to the grocery stores and the bus drivers for allowing this event to happen.
Please take the time to visit one of these grocery stores and drop off food to the bus.
Due to an exceptional growing season, the Food Share really needs extra hands to help harvest. We pick every Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm if you can donate an hour or two each week, it would be appreciated.
Every year, the Food Share operates a garden, behind Libro Financial & the River Church to provide fresh produce to our clients over the summer. We need a large number of volunteers to help “Plant, Maintain & Harvest” this garden over the summer.
A Great Way To Give Back To The Community
Food Banks Canada, along with its provincial members and food banks across the country, are asking all Canadians to mark Hunger Awareness Week and to Give It Up for Hunger – to make a positive impact on the issue of hunger across the country.
What does giving it up for hunger really mean? It’s as easy as three simple steps:
Give It Up for Hunger – Close to 900,000 Canadians have relied on food banks this past month. Know what it’s like to have food out of reach by challenging yourself to give up your lunches or a food staple for the week.
Give a Shout – Share your experience- go online and show your support via Facebook, Twitter or blogging or wear a Hunger Awareness Week sticker
Give It Out – Donate food, funds or your time to a local food bank.
Food banks have been helping more than 700,000 people each and every month for the better part of the past 15 years. In 2013, close to 833,000 people were assisted each month by a food bank in Canada. Of those helped, 36% were children and 77,920 were turning to a food bank for the first time.
Too many Canadians do not have enough income to pay for rent, bills, clothing for growing children, transportation, medication – and food. Food is unfortunately one of the most flexible household expenses, and it is often nutrition that suffers when money is tight.
Hunger in Canada is a significant issue. Which THIS is why it’s so critical to dedicate a week to talk about it and work together to make a change. Hunger Awareness Week, May 5-9, 2014 is a week for communities and individuals across Canada to take action in reducing hunger. You can <!––>Give Hunger a Voice<!––> and make a positive difference.
To learn more about the issue of hunger in Canada, visit the Food Banks Canada website by clicking here
The North Huron Food Share has been fortunate to have a community garden located between Libro Credit Union and the Maitland River Community Church. This has been a tremendous support to the food share in order to provide fresh produce to our clients all summer.
What do we need from you?
The garden is large and it takes alot of hands to keep the weeds down and harvest the produce when ready. We would like to be able to create a schedule of volunteers over the summer that would be able assist us with the garden. If you enjoy being outside and have an hour or three that you could donate to helping support the garden, have we got a job for you!
More hands make light work. Please contact nhfoodshare@gmail.com for more information.
It hardly seems possible that 2013 is drawing to a close. The North Huron Food Share would like to extend our THANKS at this Christmas season to each and every one, who over the year has continued to support our cause. The continuing generosity of you, our donors, when approached to support the Food Share, shows the thoughtful & caring compassion that the local small towns and rural areas have for the less fortunate. The numbers and sizes of the donations from individuals, churches, service clubs etc., this festive season, are truly appreciated.
We have seen another increase in our clientele over last year but we are striving to maintain the level of food distribution to our clients. We have been able to once again, give turkeys and hams to our clients at this Christmas Season. On Dec. 4th, we set a dubious record of having 53 families come to the Food Share, with the rest of the month still to go. I think that it’s important that people realize that we only SUPPLEMENT the client’s existing food and they can access the Food Share only once a month. A family of four will receive approximately $130 worth of food or roughly one week’s groceries. We had 10 new families come to the Food Share this month. These are not new families moving to Wingham & area, rather families that now find themselves a little short of food at the end of the month. It takes a lot of soul searching to finally admit that you need to come to the Food Share for assistance.
The directors of the North Huron Community Food Share are continuing to come up with new ideas for Food Drives etc. We seem to be preaching the same message, every time I write an editorial, but the facts remain, we are in constant need of food or monetary donations. When you visualize how much food 53 families require, based on the information that was mentioned earlier in this article, the demand is almost impossible to keep up to. I am proud to once again mention that our directors and volunteers, are not paid for their valuable service to the Food Share. All the non-perishable food & monies donated to us, stay right here at the Food Share. We have an amazing relationship with the local food stores in Wingham and the surrounding towns. They make us aware weeks in advance of specials, so we can make our dollar go as far as possible. We believe in shopping “at home” to support our local stores and their employees, as these are also the same people who support our cause. Check out our website (www.nhfoodshare.ca) Please know that by your continuing donations, you are helping someone’s Christmas season a little better.
My all time favourite movie and especially at this time of year is “Scrooge”. I leave you with the immortal last words spoken by Tiny Tim….”God Bless Us, Everyone”
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the North Huron Community Food Share
Thank you goes out to the following groups:
WOW – we are so grateful to live in a community that takes the time to put the needs of others ahead of themselves. Each small donation adds up and does make a difference in the lives of many adults and children. Keep up the amazing work that you do.
The following is a list of the most need items for the Food Share today (Nov 1st):
The North Huron Food Share is a registered not-for-profit organization, which is funded by donations from businesses, community groups & associations, as well as individuals. The need for food is growing everyday by people on fixed incomes, the elderly and low income families.
In the first 3 months of 2013, 350 housesholds, which includes 508 adults and 452 children accessed the North Huron Community Food Share. In addition, the Food Share has also had 31 new families needing assistance over and above our current households. In May alone, we had 10 new families. The need continues to grow and with your support, together we can make a difference so no one goes hungry.
STATS FOR MAY: 120 HOUSEHOLDS WHICH TRANSLATES INTO 189 ADULTS, 143 CHILDREN AND 34 CHILDREN OVER 18 STILL LEAVING AT HOME = 366 PEOPLE
Our food hampers provide canned, fresh and frozen food to individuals and families. Our hampers typically provide enough food for 4-5 days and the Food Share can be accessed once a month.
The Food Share is always looking for partners and volunteers in the community to helps us work towards our goal of eliminating hunger in our local counties. When we all work together, by providing financial contribution or donation of time or resources, we are one step closer to reaching this goal.
Every year, in partnership with Food Banks Canada, the members of Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB) participate in a national survey on hunger in Canada. This survey is completed by our members who collect data on food bank usage during the month of March in Ontario. The Hunger Count is then released every fall by Food Banks Canada which includes overview of survey results, analysis, and policy recommendations. Based on the 2012 survey, the following has been determined:
- 412,998 individuals accessed Ontario food banks in March 2012
- 38.7% of food bank users, or 159,918 individuals, were children (11,737 more children than in March 2011)
- 44.6 % of all food bank users were women over 18 years of age
- 174,618 households were served by food banks (9.8% of which were first time users)
- 42.8% of food bank users were on social assistance
- 27.3% of food bank users were on disability support
- 64.5% of food bank users were low-income, rental market tenants
- 19.2% of food banks ran out of nutritious food during the month
A group of Wingham area residents had a HUGE YARD SALE on Saturday May 11th from 8:00 am – 1:00 pm.
They were able to donate $830.00 to the Food Share.
This report is a must read! Click here to view the Real Cost of Eating in Huron Country report.
We are pleased to announce that Economical Insurance has recently made a donation of $500 to the Food Share. The donation will be used towards the purchase of anti-fatigue mats for the volunteers servings our clients. Picture to follow shortly.
Founded in 1871, Economical Insurance® is one of the largest property and casualty insurance companies in Canada, providing security and support for our customers and broker partners from coast to coast.