COBDEN — The final Christmas hampers to be delivered by the Cobden Food Bank should be delivered by week’s end, or early next week.
There were 51 hamper requests this year, which is seven more than last year, said Bonnie Helferty, organizer of the food bank.
The hampers each have a turkey and a variety of what could be found at a Christmas dinner, such as potatoes, carrots, stuffing, cranberries and some special desserts, she said. Ms. Helferty purchases most of the items with financial donations.
“It’s just a lot easier,” she said.
However, she also includes donated items, such as chips, crackers, candycanes, baked goods, etc.
“I’m hoping to be done all the baskets by Friday,” she said Wednesday afternoon. “I need a few days for myself at Christmas.”
She noted earlier this week, 30 20-pound bags of potatoes were brought by a man to her Main Street business, which is where food is dropped off.
“They must have been on sale and he just filled up his truck,” she said.
She noted donations come in throughout the year and the food bank shelves are filled for now. Many churches, schools and organizations hold food drives, which keeps the shelves full, she added. She noted one item that is always needed is cereal.
She noted Caressant Care Retirement and Nursing Home recently donated several boxes of food to the food bank.
“We’ll start out the year with a nice bunch of stuff,” Ms. Helferty said. “However, by March, April, the shelves will start to look bare.”
Ms. Helferty said while 50 hampers are necessary this year, throughout the year, just under 30 families need the food bank. To ensure none of the people are double dipping, which means using more than one food bank, she said the food bank committees, Cobden, Renfrew and Eganville, talk to each other.
“We tell people to go to just one or the other food bank,” she said.
While there are people who believe food banks are abused, Ms. Helferty said these people are getting macaroni and cheese, not a steak dinner.
There is also a screening process, because Ms. Helferty, who has been working with the food bank for about 12 years, said she’s not as familiar with everyone as she once was. People seem to come and go much quicker than years ago, she said.
“I can hardly put a name to a face,” she said.
Ms. Helferty said the food bank is used by a variety of people, including those who have jobs but need that little bit of extra help; those whose hours have been cut for whatever reason; those who don’t have a job.
Throughout the winter months there is an increase in usage, Ms. Helferty said.
While donations can be dropped off at any time at her business when it’s open, she said it’s preferable if people call prior to getting food, since it has to be packaged up. The number is 613-647-7801. The food can be picked up Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. until noon.
