THUNDER BAY – Food drives are normally associated with non-perishable items, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a substantial need at local food banks for dairy, meat, and other foods rich in protein.
The Regional Food Distribution Association is hoping to spread the word that all food is needed and with the help of Thunder Bay Shelter House, it will host the city’s first meat and dairy food drive this weekend at the Real Canadian Superstore.
“We are always looking for perishables and we like to get that word out,” said Brendan Carlin, community services manager with the RFDA. “I don’t know if it has caught on quite yet, so we do like to tell people that we can certainly take perishables, we can certainly take meat.”
All the food collected will be split between the RFDA and Shelter House. Michelle Jordan, executive director at Thunder Bay Shelter House, said food drives like this are important to the staff, volunteers, and the hundreds of clients the shelter serves.
“We struggle sometimes to make sure we have enough protein at the shelter for our residents,” she said. “We serve about 700 meals a day, so it’s really important we do this.”
“This will be great,” Jordan continued. “Hopefully we’ll have chicken and turkey and pork instead of just ground beef and things that are a little less costly.”
During the food drive, beef, chicken, turkey, pork, bacon, sausage, lunch meat, canned meat, whipped cream, milk, eggs, and butter/margarine will be accepted. A refrigerated truck will be on site to keep the food collected cold.
“Protein is so important to so many people,” Carlin said. “It gives you energy, it helps you get through the day. It’s just so important for health and for energy.”
Carlin said for health reasons, they will not be able to accept meat from an individual’s freezer and will require a receipt to ensure donations were recently purchased.
Even though this is the first meat and dairy food drive, both Carlin and Jordan are confident that once again the people of Thunder Bay will come through and help those who need a helping hand.
“Thunder Bay has a huge heart and they donate all the time,” Jordan said. “We definitely see that every day and I’m sure we will see that again this weekend.”
“I think whatever we get is going to be a success because we don’t get a lot of this food on a regular basis, so anytime we can boost our stock of this product, is great,” Carlin added.
The meat and dairy food drive will take place on April 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Real Canadian Superstore.
