Windsor Essex food banks are still hoping for a miracle this June 27, even without porch pickups.
For the last two years, a committee of community advocates has organized porch pickups for donations to area food banks. In 2020, the community donated 2,020,500 pounds of food on June 27. The following year, 1,032,199 pounds of food were collected.
This year, people are being encouraged to drop off donations to their neighbourhood food banks directly so that the miracle can keep going.
"We always like to collect a lot of high-protein donations such as canned meats, canned tuna, canned salmon. Snacks, kids love snacks for lunches, hygiene products, pasta sauce, and pasta. Those are items that are always needed and used," said June Muir, Chief Executive Officer of the UHC Hub of Opportunities.
Muir said despite many people back to work after the pandemic, the demand at area food banks continues to rise.
"Last April, we served over 2,023. This April, we served 3,735 individuals," said Muir. "It's an 85 per cent increase, and it's because of the cost of living. Everything has increased. What people will do is they will pay their rent, they will pay their hydro, and the last thing they will do is buy food."
To find a food bank near you and its hours of operations, visit the UHC-Hub of Opportunities website.
