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GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca LOCAL FOOD BANKS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE FOR THE NEW YEAR than 80 families in the village and surroun- ding areas of Champlain Township. Lacelle said the food bank shelves have adequate stocks for January but all donations are still appreciated.
The new year has begun and all the food banks in the Prescott-Russell region are reopening their doors and organizing their volunteer schedules to welcome people in need after the Christmas holiday break. Representatives for the non-profit groups operating food banks, which serve the townships of East Hawkesbury, Champlain, and the Town of Hawkesbury, all report they are in good shape in case anyone needs help. The shelves at the Hawkesbury, L’Orignal, and Vankleek Hill food banks are still well stocked, even after the various Christmas hamper distributions. “We can use more volunteers,” said Fran- çois Petit, president of the Hawkesbury Food Bank. “This is our most important need.” Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can phone 613-636-0666. Last month, the Hawkesbury Food Bank distributed Christmas hampers to about 400 families, which Petit noted is an inc- rease from the previous year’s 300. The increase depleted the shelves a bit but the Hawkesbury Food Bank is still well enough stocked for the start of January, and can use some of its cash donations “thanks to the generosity of the community” to supplement its main supplies. Petit noted that donations of canned fruit or healthy snacks for children for school lunch desserts would still be appreciated. “We’re really blessed in Vankleek Hill,” TBJE3FW3PCFSU.BSUJOBCPVUUIFTJUVBUJPO for the Vankleek Hill Food Bank following last month’s Christmas hamper distribution for more than 90 families. 3FW.BSUJODSFEJUFEUIFWPMVOUFFSDPMMFD - tion efforts of the Vankleek Hill Lions Club, fire department, the Alexandria army cadets, and others during the annual Christmas food drive with ensuring ample supplies for the hamper distribution. The Vankleek Hill Food Bank shelves are TUJMMXFMMTUPDLFEUIPVHI3FW.BSUJOOPUFE that more meat to store in the freezers would help as the new year begins. “We’re very lucky to have a lot of vo- lunteers,” said Jacques Lacelle, president of the L’Orignal Food Bank. This past Christmas, the L’Original Food Bank provided Christmas hampers for more
“We could use donations of ground meat,” said Fernand Paquette, president of the Alfred Food Bank. “But all donations are appreciated.” Paquette said the local non-profit group enjoyed “a grand guignolée” last month, thanks to the support of local volunteers and community groups, with more than enough donations to fill Christmas hampers for distribution to more than 90 families. He also credited volunteers for their work at the "MGSFEGSJQFSJFUISJGUTUPSFPO.BJO4USFFU which helps provide support revenue through the year for food bank operations. Donations for the food bank are always welcome at the thrift store or by phone at 613-679-4507. Clarence-Rockland “The shelves are pretty full,” said André Perras, president of the Centre d’aide Clarence-Rockland Help Centre, regarding supplies at the food bank. “We could use more space.” The foyer and the back room area of the food bank on Chamberland Boulevard have boxes and cartons of overflow donations of food and non-food items, collected during last month’s hamper drive. Perras noted that volunteers also have numerous boxes of out-of-stock toiletries, pet food, and other OPOGPPEJUFNTEPOBUFECZUIFMPDBM8BM.BSU to sort through and shelve. 7JDFQSFTJEFOU/JDPMF(BVMOPUFEUIBUMBTU month, the Help Centre was able to provide food drive vouchers for 257 families and also provide 215 children with at least one gift for $ISJTUNBT4IFBMTPOPUFEBUSFOEGPSUIF Help Centre’s client list with more families that have more than one child looking for assistance. There is also more demand for infant formula and baby food. #PUI1FSSBTBOE(BVMBHSFFUIBUUIF)FMQ Centre could also use more volunteers, both to work in the food bank and upstairs in the friperie/thrift store, which helps provide extra revenue for Help Centre programs. Casselman and Russell Township i.FBUJTUIFQSJODJQBMOFFEIFSF uTBJE Diane Perrault, president of the Casselman Food Bank. “This is something that’s going to go up in price. Also fresh fruits and vege- tables are more expensive at this time of year.”
Les opérations des banques alimentaires dans le canton de Champlain et dans la ville de Hawkesbury sont en bonne santé au début de la nouvelle année. Une chose dont les banques alimentaires de L’Orignal, Vankleek Hill et Hawkesbury ont toutes besoin, c’est d’un plus grand nombre de bénévoles pour aider à partager la charge de travail. —photo Gregg Chamberlain
The Casselman Food Bank received a recent donation to help with the purchase of another freezer to help store perishable food supplies. One trend, Paquette noted, for the Cassel- man Food Bank’s operation is an increase in the number of seniors coming for help to the PVUMFU4IFFTUJNBUFEBUMFBTUQFSDFOU of clients among more than 600 families in
UIF$BTTFMNBO 4U"MCFSU $SZTMFSBOEPUIFS areas served are in their 60s or older. “These people have worked hard all their lives,” she said, “and now they have only their pensions.” The Riceville Food Bank remains open to donations in the new year after serving its client list during last month’s Christmas hamper distribution.
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