Rotary/Centre Dufferin High School work together for local food bank

October 16, 2013 · 0 Comments

Students from Centre Dufferin High School worked with Shelburne’s Rotary Club members donating their time and effort participating in a food drive for the The Shepherd’s Cupboard Food Bank on Wednesday, October 9th.

Shelburne’s local food bank is expected to help 75–100 people over the next few months and that help extends to families and single individuals. Reverend David Howes, Food Bank Chair was on hand to help out and fellow volunteers mentioned there is still more aid needed. Along with regular items donated such as canned tuna, canned pasta, canned fruit and veggies, rice and cold cereal,(food items with advantageous expiry dates ) there is an ever growing need for more items that generally gets overlooked, and kids school snacks which are hopefully peanut-free, fall into that category.

Volunteers respectfully add that there is an ever growing need for personal hygiene products such as soap, toothpaste and toilet paper, things most people take for granted.

Grade 10, Centre Dufferin High Student, Abby Scott 15, is one volunteer who participated in the Food Drive. When asked why she was lending her time, she had this to say, “ You get a full feeling collecting food for others!”

On a more serious note, when asked if she ever imagined needing to make use of the food bank herself, Scott responded to a thought that had never occurred to her before , “ I hope not.”

And that is “it” in a nutshell. Life has many twists and turns in store and though, happy and clever Scott may never need to use the Food Bank just to survive, she now has a very clear understanding that no one person is immune to the possibility of poverty, and that understanding bonds people together in the common human condition we refer to as life.

When donating to the Shepherd’s Cupboard, instead of saying ‘never’, but rather, ‘it could be me one day’, great things can happen when judgement and stigmas are replaced by genuine concern for our fellow man.

The Shepherd’s Cupboard Food Bank is open Wednesdays noon to 1:30 p.m, and Thursdays from 6:30 – 8 p.m. If you need more information call, 519-925-2600 ext. 350.

By Alex Sher

Photo by Alex Sher
Rotarians participated in a food drive for the Shepherd’s Cupboard along with help of students from Centre Dufferin High School Wednesday, October 9th. (Lto R) Sandra Gallaugher, Cindy Sabo, Réal Gagnon, Kerstin Stinson, Steve Thurston. Note: Rotarian Liaison to the Centre Dufferin High School Fred Knetsch was present working off site when this photograph was taken.