UFCW Locals 175 & 633 members make $3,000 donation to the Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank in Cobourg-Port Hope; will donate almost $200,000 across Ontario this holiday season
Recognizing the increased demand facing food banks this year, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Locals 175 & 633, on behalf of its 70,000 members, will be donating almost $200,000 to food banks and charitable organizations across the province.
On December 1, UFCW Local 175 Recorder Karen Vaughan delivered a cheque for $3,000 to the Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank in Cobourg-Port Hope. Another $3,000 donation went to the Gleaners Food Bank in Belleville. The Local Union will continue its donations to 60 organizations across Ontario through December.
“We are facing times like never before,” said Erin Hunter, Coordinator at Northumberland Fare Share. “To be quite honest, we have surpassed over 1,000 mouths per week for the past two weeks, and the numbers continue to rise. Many of our Neighbours, as we call our Clients, are coming in to the Foodbank for the first time in their lives, many of whom are embarrassed and stressed to be suddenly facing food insecurity, many of whom are working full-time and simply cannot afford the basic necessities needed to survive.”
There are 225 volunteers at Fare Share between their two locations. Many of those volunteers working hours every week to bring food in and get food out. But their dedication is not enough. “The Foodbank needs community support; donations are down. This just goes to show, that everyone is struggling,” added Hunter.
“We know that many of our communities in this province are in need of support. I’m proud of our Executive Board for choosing to not only make these donations each year, but to have increased it this year so we can extend that support to more organizations so they can continue their invaluable work,” said Shawn Haggerty, President of UFCW Local 175.
This year, the UFCW Locals 175 & 633 Executive Board approved an increase to the amount being donated to almost $200,000, up from $90,000 last year. This has allowed the Local Union to extend its donations to 60 organizations this year. Among the many services to their communities, the organizations supported with these donations provide: front-line food provision for families and individuals; hot meals for vulnerable community members; assisting with school nutrition programs, and; food distribution and support through other area agencies and charitable initiatives.
UFCW Locals 175 & 633 represents more than 70,000 Union Members across Ontario working in most sectors of the economy including retail grocery and pharmacy, industrial, health care, hospitality, and much more.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
