In early 2016, after nine years Downtown Carleton Place made the decision to suspend its Maskeraid Halloween Parade and optioned for a daytime event. It was one of the many events that brought donations in to the Lanark County Food Bank in October–now the food bank is attempting to find a solution for that loss.
Manager Karin Nakamura found out through an email on Sept 23 from Downtown Carleton Place that the several hundred pounds of food was not going to be donated at the end of October and also donations collected from parade spectators.
Today is Halloween- and between you and me I have a couple of real true-life scary stories.
When I lived in California it was a regular occurrence to see families living in cars on the street. One family camped outside my building parked over night for months. Bob the father had taught for a few years in an area high school and was laid off due to budget cuts. That teaching job had kept the family of 4 with barely a roof over their heads, payment of a few bills and just enough to pay for his wife’s insulin medication. There wasn’t a lot left for food, even with a job. Now homeless, they were in dire straits. Like those in need in Lanark County they used a food bank to help supplement their food.
When I volunteered at the Oakland Children’s Hospital Thrift stores years ago I remember a woman who came in and filled out a form so she could get some free clothes to search for employment. I quickly noticed her hands shaking so badly she couldn’t keep a steady hand to fill the form out. I asked her if I could help her and she began to cry. She told me she had not eaten in 4 days, and it took everything for her to sit in a chair and accept the food we immediately went out and got her.
Independent Store drop off –455 McNeely Ave Carleton Place
Bob and the young woman are only a couple of stories I could tell you about poverty and hunger that I have seen in my lifetime. Did you know that just over 13% of Canadians live in a state of food insecurity, which means they do not have reliable access to adequate amounts of safe, good-quality, nutritious food?
All sorts of people need the Lanark County Food Bank: families with children, employed people whose low wages do not cover basic living essentials, individuals on social assistance, and Canadians living on a fixed income, including seniors and people with disabilities.
Royal Bank Drop Off- 93 Bridge Street Carleton Place
When you do your groceries throw in a few extra things for the Lanark County Food Bank this week and next if you can. If your family enjoys, needs or uses it– then so will all their families. Let’s help them make up that loss this month.
They say over 850,000 Canadians use a food bank each month– no one can help everyone–but everyone can help someone.
Remember the Lanark County Food Bank gets NO government funding!
Please donate to:
Their big food drive is on November 12th. The food you donate this November sustains their families into the New Year.
Patrice’s in Almonte, and Freshco, Giant Tiger and Mitchell’s in Carleton Place will have pre-packaged bags for sale or you can pick your own.
Please give if you can and please share the post with your friends.
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