Duane Hicks
Christmas is the season for giving and thinking of others, so why not help replenish area food banks this Saturday?
The eighth-annual “Stuff-A-Cruiser” campaign will be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Safeway, The Place, and Walmart here, Cloverleaf Grocery in Emo, and Beaver Mills Market in Rainy River.
Volunteers will be outside of those locations, collecting food donations from customers.
The items then will be donated to Salvation Army and United Native Friendship Centre food banks, with some also going to the annual community Christmas dinner here.
The drives in Emo and Rainy River will help the respective food banks in those communities.
UNFC homelessness outreach worker Jennifer Kivimaki, who is spearheading the initiative this year, urged the public to consider making a donation when they do their shopping this Saturday.
“Every little bit helps, and it goes to the people who need it,” she remarked.
Kivimaki added even though everyone may not realize it, “the need is definitely there” in our community.
Along with the UNFC and Salvation Army, the OPP, Treaty #3 Police Service, CN Police, Canada Border Services, Project Sunset, the Rainy River District Emergency Medical Services, the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau, Safe Communities Rainy River District, and Iron Range Bus Lines all are on board with “Stuff-A-Cruiser” for this year.
Kivimaki said she has enough volunteers to cover the various “Stuff-A-Cruiser” sites on Saturday. But if anyone would like to show up and lend a hand, “the more, the merrier.”
As in past years, shoppers interested in donating will be given a list of needed items to choose from.
Kivimaki noted the list has been priorized this year so that certain foods are higher up on the list.
For example, canned meat (i.e., tuna, salmon, chicken, and ham) and peanut butter provide much-needed protein and are perfect for those who may be living without a stove to cook or a fridge needed to keep certain foods cool–amenities many of us take for granted.
“We want to be sure we can reach everyone who needs help and have everything be accessible,” Kivimaki stressed.
The “wish list” also includes canned fruit, cereal, oatmeal, peanut butter, jam, canned soup (chicken noodle, vegetable, tomato, etc.), canned vegetables (corn, beans, carrots, peas, and tomatoes), baked beans, turkey, and ham.
Other foods include Kraft Dinner, salt and pepper, pasta, spaghetti sauce, instant potatoes, coffee, tea, sugar, powdered milk, juice boxes, canned pasta, cranberry sauce, Stove Top stuffing, pancake mix (just add water), syrup, and granola bars.
Last December, residents “stuffed” 30 cruisers in Fort Frances, seven in Emo, and three in Rainy River in support of district food banks and the community Christmas dinner.
