A citywide food drive to restock the shelves of Kawartha Food Share in Peterborough, Ont., returns on June 1.
The Porch Pirates for Good food drive will see volunteers canvass for food donations to the largest food bank in the city.
Residents are asked to leave a bag of non-perishable food items on their front porch to be picked up by the food drive volunteers, many of whom will be dressed as pirates.
The food drive will begin at 9 a.m. on June 1. All food items picked up will be delivered to the Kawartha Food Share warehouse.
Over the past four years, the food drive has collected more than 140,000 pounds of food and $13,000 in monetary donations.
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Kawartha Food Share general manager Ashlee Aitken says for every $1 donated, the food bank can purchase up to $3 worth of food. She says the food bank helps approximately 12,000 and distributes 250,000 pounds of food each month.
In April, Statistics Canada said 8.7 million Canadians had reported some form of food insecurity.
A study by Peterborough Public Health released in December 2023 reported one in five households in the area has endured food insecurity over the past three years.
“The number of clients using food banks across Canada has reached an all-time high,” states Ashlee Aitken, manager of Kawartha Food Share. “The rising cost of food and supply chain shortages have affected KFS clients, donors and their own purchasing power. The most vulnerable in our community need our support.”
The food drive is asking for residents to donate the following items:
- peanut butter
- canned tuna
- canned vegetables and canned fruit
- individually wrapped school snacks
- pasta and pasta sauce
- Alphagetti, Kraft Dinner and Chef Boyardee
- breakfast cereal
- gluten-free items such as pasta, cookies, oats, etc.
- canned soup and stew
- feminine hygiene products
- diapers
For those unable to participate in the food drive, monetary donations can be made online. Volunteers will be able to collect cheques made out to Kawartha Food Share during their pickups on June 1.
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