Food Basics Gives Port Cares $10.5k From Christmas Campaign

Port Cares recently received almost $10,500 from Port Colborne Food Basics, which was a combination of generous cash donations from the community over the Christmas season and gift cards from corporate; Metro Inc.

Metro Inc’s ‘Out of Reach’ collection program ran from the beginning of December, through to Christmas Eve, where customers could donate at the till, with all proceeds going towards Port Cares.

After $6,588.85 was collected in cash, Metro Inc. then contributed $3,900 in their store’s gift cards to bring the total donation to $10,488.85.

“This is such an incredible donation from Food Basics that will truly help us help so many,” said Christine Clark Lafleur, Executive Director of Port Cares. “We couldn’t do the good things we do in this neighbourhood without the outstanding support of companies and citizens like this.”

“I’m so impressed and proud of this organization that ensures all donations are kept in the communities they are in,” said store manager, Jeff Millejours. “You don’t see a lot of that anywhere else and how quickly the funds get into the hands of the people helping people.”

Food Basics also ran this campaign at the till around the Thanksgiving season and donated $6,600 to the agency, which was also a combination of cash and gift cards.

The donated gift cards allow Port Cares to purchase emergency items for their food bank or meal program if they don’t see items donated that are in-need.  

“The number of people coming to our Reach Out Centre has skyrocketed by over 30 per cent since the pandemic started over a year ago. Right now, we are providing food to 1,700 local low-income residents of which more than 600 are children. Our meal program registrants have grown from 387 in February 2020 to 740 today,” explains Christine Clark Lafleur, Executive Director, Port Cares.

Port Cares relies on donations and fundraising to run its Reach Out Centre including the food bank and meal program along with an array of other support services and programs. “It’s hard to believe we’ve been in this pandemic for this long,” says Clark Lafleur. “With the increasing need for our services showing no signs of slowing down, we are extremely grateful for the donations that continue to be made.”

Clark Lafleur and colleague Sarah Eller, manager of Client Services accepted the donation in their ‘Doin’ Good in the Hood’ hoodies, which the agency made for staff who are continually doing good things for everyone in the neighbourhood, while playing on the word hood for hoodie and neighbourhood.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT PORT CARES REACH OUT CENTRE:

• Port Cares Reach Out Centre Food Bank (ROFC) assists more than 1,700 individuals. A third of the people reliant on the ROFC Food Bank are children.
• Port Cares does not receive government funding to run the Reach Out Centre Food Bank. Port Cares is a registered charity relying on donations and fundraising to operate the centre and provide supports to low-income families.
• The most needed food item donations for the food bank include canned meat, canned fruit, canned vegetables, pasta & sauce, peanut butter, cereal, jam, baby food, formula and diapers, personal hygiene items.
• Last school year the Port Cares Reach Out Food Centre located at 61 Nickel Street, Port Colborne, provided 2,020 lunch kits and more than 12,000 lunches to local school-age elementary and secondary school children who live in low-income households.
• Hot, nutritious community meals are served three times a week to families and individuals in need with more than 60 adults and children typically attend each meal. In winter months there will be nearly 100 clients attending at mealtime. Currently there are 740 low-income adults and children registered for the meal program.

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