Donate a plate this December at Shelburne Home Hardware

Written By MARNI WALSH

Bill and Carol Gillam and the staff of Shelburne Home Hardware are asking the community to open their hearts again this year to support the Donate a Plate fund raiser for breakfast clubs at area schools. Starting December 1st and running until the end of the month, customers will have the opportunity to support local breakfast clubs at the cash when they make their purchases. Red and yellow plates with the names of donors will have a place of honour on the Donate a Plate wall at Shelburne Home Hardware.

Approximately 450 students are served a meal each day at Shelburne and area Breakfast Programs. “Creating happier and healthier children and youth will only help to strengthen our community,” said Heather Verpaalen from the Children's Foundation of Guelph and Wellington. The Foundation is in charge of the program.

“The community has been a fantastic support every year,” says Bill Gillam. “We already raised $1500 at Ladies Night, which I matched dollar for dollar, so with $3000 we are off to a great start.”

Heather Verpaalen says, “The volunteer program provides support to elementary and secondary schools in Dufferin, Wellington and Guelph with healthy food in a safe, convenient environment in order to maximize students' potential to learn. The programs also offer an atmosphere for social inclusion amongst students who may otherwise feel marginalized.”

The Children's Foundation of Guelph and Wellington Food & Friends student nutrition programs receive core funding from the Ministry of Children and Youth services covering up to 15% of the costs for individual programs. This means each school program must raise 85% of their own costs.

“With the help of Bill Gillam at the Shelburne Home Hardware and the Shelburne community, the funds raised support local Food & Friends Breakfast programs to bring healthy food to hungry minds,” says Ms. Verpaalen.

Last year's donation from Shelburne Home Hardware was one of the largest donations of its kind to come out of Dufferin in the ten years the program has been running. This will be the fourth year that Mr. Gillam and his staff lead the fund raiser to support the breakfast programs at Shelburne and area public schools. The Gillam's generously matched donations made at their store to bring the total to $15,000 last year.

“The goal is to hit, and hopefully pass, last year's total and raise even more for the Breakfast Program,” says Bill Gillam. Shelburne breakfast programs include Hyland Heights Elementary School, Glenbrook Public School, Centennial Hylands Elementary School, Centre Dufferin District High School, and Primrose Elementary School. All the money raised during Shelburne Home Hardware's Labour Day BBQ, Ladies' Night, and Donate A Plate campaign is split evenly to all five programs in those schools. Mr. Gillam calls it a “fantastic cause” and “a positive for everyone.” For more information visit: www.childrensfoundation.org/what-we-do/food-friends.

In addition, Kids, families, and even pets, can enjoy Kid's Day at Shelburne Home Hardware, December 8th from 10 am – 2 pm. Kids can take a selfie with Santa, decorate a gingerbread man in the Kitchen Centre, or shop for Mom and Dad with special gift offers ranging from $2- $5 for little shoppers.