SMITHS FALLS — Smiths Falls showed up in a big way for week three of the RCL Automotive Build a Mountain of Food campaign, pushing this year’s running total past 100,000 lbs of donated food.
Long-time volunteer Jim Wright reported that Saturday’s event brought in 22,572.5 pounds of food and $10,551.50 in cash for the Smiths Falls Community Food Bank.
“The support again, overwhelming here in Smiths Falls,” Wright said. “It’s amazing – the support that we’re seeing.”
Leigh Craig, board member at the food bank and part of the RCL Automotive team, said it was a “fantastic day.”
“Smiths Falls comes out,” she said in a video interview with BAM team coordinator Jim Wright. “They support their neighbours every year on this day and we couldn’t have asked for a better day.”
Craig said that three or four years ago, about 700 people were visiting the food bank per month, and now they are up over 1,000.
Last year, she said there were more than 11,700 individuals who came to the food bank. “That’s over our population,” she said. “One in every 10 families are in there, 35 per cent being children. You don’t want to see them going to school and trying to learn and be hungry. It’s fantastic when these supporters come out for us on this day and support throughout the year.”
Craig made special mention of the volunteers who are at the food bank daily preparing hampers for families, from a single person to families of 10.
“And they will step up if there are extra jobs to do,” she said.
Cash donations included $3,000 from the Smiths Falls Civitan Club, $2,500 from RCL Automotive and $1,500 from Scott Fleming of Rideau Lumber. The remaining $3,551.50 came from donation boxes at participating stores.
Val Angelhart, chair of the Smiths Falls Community Food Bank, asked that a heartfelt thank you be shared with everyone who donated, volunteered or helped spread the word locally.
Pre-packaged bag sales also played a key role. Sylvie Jonsson contributed $5 to every bag sold at Jonsson’s Your Independent Grocer, and more than 900 had been purchased by mid-afternoon. Sales will continue until all 1,200 bags are gone.
Derek Buffam of Garden Market increased his annual business-year pledge to $5,000 and once again ran the store’s match program that doubles the number of food items purchased for the food bank.
Giant Tiger owner Ross Muir added a full skid of food plus hundreds of customer-purchased pre-packaged bags. Food Basics also offered pre-packaged bags for shoppers looking for a fast way to contribute.
With Smiths Falls included, this year’s campaign has collected 103,926.5 pounds of food and $29,535.50 in cash over the first three weeks.
On Nov. 29, the blitz will hit Gordanier’s in Elgin in the morning for the Elgin Food Bank and Kudrinko’s in Westport in the afternoon for the Westport Food Bank.
Coming up
Saturday, Dec. 6
Portland
9 a.m. to 12 p.m., LCBO and RBC
In support of the Portland Food Bank
Merrickville
1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Merrickville Food Market
In support of the Merrickville Lions Club Christmas Food Hamper Campaign
Saturday, Dec. 13
Athens
9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Athens Fresh Market
In support of the Athens Food Bank
Delta
1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Delta Country Market
In support of the Delta Food Bank
RELATED: Build a Mountain of Food campaign tops 81,000 lb after second week on the trail
