Once a year, the No Frills store in Bradford West Gwillimbury invites shoppers to donate at the register when paying for their groceries – with all of the donations going to a good community cause.
Peter Reali’s No Frills, located at 305 Barrie St. in Bradford, chooses the Helping Hand Food Bank as their charity of choice. This year, customers donated a whopping $1,296 – which the store topped up to an even $1,500.
“We’re always happy to help the people,” said Reali, presenting the cheque to Helping Hand Food Bank president Anne Silvey and food bank volunteers on Aug. 25.
“Once a year we choose one charity. We always choose you,” he told Silvey.
The food bank volunteers were at No Frills to also pick up a “monster order,” purchased with cash donations received from the community – mostly items to help restock the shelves, and provide parents with options for back-to-school lunches. Jams, cereals, pudding cups, juice boxes – “We chose everything that’s nut free, so it’s good for school,” said Silvey.
And when it came time to load the purchases in the volunteers’ vehicles, to take it all back to the Helping Hand Food Bank, Reali went “above and beyond.” He helped to load up the order in his own vehicle, and deliver it to the food bank’s doors.
The Helping Hand Food Bank was also the charity of choice for new store Hearth, Water and Stone, when partners Dale Hancock, AJ Sherifi and Evette Chang held a fundraising hot dog barbecue at Carrot Fest last weekend. The fundraiser collected $250 through the sale of hot dogs and pop.
The store at 64 Holland St. E. officially opens Sept. 8, but owners and staff threw open the doors on Friday to deliver the funds to Silvey and food bank volunteers Alvin Belanger and Helen Walker.
“We have such good community support,” said Silvey.
The Helping Hand Food Bank is located at 123 Moore St. in Bradford, and is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 1-2 p.m., and Fridays from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 905-775-2824.