The Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank in Port Hope received a generous donation of produce from a local farmer.
Jamie Kent from Kent Farms in Newcastle donated 4,000 pounds of fresh produce that was delivered on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 to the Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank on South Street in Port Hope.
Gilmer’s Home Hardware dropped off the produce then members of both Cobourg and Port Hope Police Services along with Ganaraska Trail students helped package and carry the produce inside.
Port Hope Police Detective Constable Eric Rowlands and Cobourg Police Constable Kimball Marshall initiated the project with the help of Jamie Kent from Kent Farms.
The two officers were formerly members of the Toronto Police Service at 43 Division.
“While on patrol one day we saw there was a large line-up and we realized there was a big need for food in the community,” said Marshall.
Since both officers are now working in Port Hope and Cobourg they saw the need was there and contacted Kent Farms who graciously donated the produce.
“He’s been helping us out since 2020 and it’s been great,” said Rowlands.
“We’ve definitely noticed that working in smaller communities like Port Hope and Cobourg that reaching out to different organizations like Gilmer’s Home Hardware and Kent Farms they all come together really quickly to help us out with no hesitation.”
While the students walked along the officers would place items in their bags, then they would carry them inside and placed on tables.
“This is great,” said Port Hope Police Chief Tim Farquharson.
“It’s police building relationships with our youth,” but also helping people at Thanksgiving to make the community better.
With the students from Ganaraska Trail helping it’s about making that generational change.
“If we’re going to make a change in the future, it’s through our youth.”
Kent Farms has also graciously offered to help out at Christmas.
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
