Three Bradford businesses are helping to feed those in need this Thanksgiving weekend.
The local Wimpy’s Diner, CIBC and RBC collectively raised $2,500 and about 200 food items through independent efforts for the Helping Hand Food Bank this week.
That started with a donation of $1,000 from Wimpy’s Diner staff on Thursday afternoon.
Co-owner, Kate Yip, said she felt good that she and the staff were able to make the donation, especially with “everything being so expensive,” including for those still struggling to deal with increased interest rates and the impacts to mortgages.
“Even the people who have good jobs need the food bank,” Yip said. “By the time they pay the mortgage, they cannot afford to buy food.”
Yip had previously run an annual free Thanksgiving dinner since 2014 (with some exceptions during the COVID-19 pandemic), but found the number of people attending was on the decline and she worried it wasn’t reaching enough people, so this year the staff decided to donate to the food bank instead.
On Friday, two local bank branches were also preparing to make donations, after running food drives this week.
At CIBC, the staff contributed about 75 items including pasta, sauce, rice, stuffing, mashed potatoes, fruit cups and canned goods such as soup, noodles and veggies.
Inspired by one of their clients, Tamana Hafizi said the branch is hoping the donation helps ensure everyone has some food on the table for the holiday.
“The main thing is just giving back,” Nick Vecchiarelli said, noting that CIBC has long been a “staple” in the community, with a responsibility to help those in need.
The items were accompanied by notes from staff written on paper leaves and pumpkins, each describing the things for which they are thankful, including a roof over their heads, food on the table, good health, family and friends.
Over at RBC, Sai Ranade, branch manager, estimated that staff contributed between 100 and 150 food items including pasta, juice, crackers, baby food, canned foods cereal, tea and more.
“This is a bank where we’re seeing a lot of clients coming in who are living pay cheque to pay cheque,” she said. “You see a people struggling to feed their families.”
Noting that both she and many of her staff are local, Ranade said the branch wanted to help contribute to the local community to help everyone enjoy Thanksgiving.
The help doesn’t stop with food, though, as Ranade said the branch also applied to RBC’s Communities Together Fund and was approved for $1,500 to further help the food bank.
Following the holiday, Ranade said the branch plans to launch a cooking-oil drive leading up to Christmas and more information will be available inside the branch at 539 Holland St. W.
That’s all good news to Carolyn Khan, executive director at the food bank, which just last month saw its busiest day ever as demand continues to increase.
“An unexpected generous donation like this, right at this point in time just before Thanksgiving when we are seeing an increase in visits from clients, helps us immensely,” she said.
With just the donation from Wimpy’s alone, Khan expects the food bank will be able to afford milk for a month for the more than 400 families they serve.
Many may already be aware that 30 per cent of households in the region experienced some form of food insecurity in 2023, according to recent data from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, and Khan emphasized that staff and volunteers at the food bank see that in person every single shift they are open.
“We are grateful for all of the support from our community, and it’s a sad but true statement that we always need more,” she said. “Food insecurity cannot be solved by feeding the hungry, but it’s a start.”
Meanwhile, Khan explained food banks across the province are engaging in advocacy to look for more sustainable solutions through organizations such as Feed Ontario and Food Banks Canada.
“Life has become unaffordable for too many people, and something has got to change,” she said.
More information about the Helping Hand Food Bank and how it’s been serving the community since 1991 can be found at bradfordfoodbank.ca.
