By Matt Weingarden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter
A food drive initiative to feed those in need in the Tilbury area is looking for your assistance.
Fill the Trailer – Feed the Community is an ongoing monthly project hosted by the Visitation Parish Catholic Women’s League. Residents are asked to help fill the trailer on the last Sunday of the month at Visitation Church parking lot located at 5407 Comber Side Rd., in Comber.
The food drive has a unique element – each month a particular food product is highlighted as a needed good. For instance, September was Peanut Butter and Jam – the suggested items for collection.
October highlighted juice and juice boxes. November, canned meats are the suggested non-perishables.
The Visitation Parish Catholic Women’s League Comber is amalgamated from three parishes including Annunciation Parish, Stoney Point, Our Lady of Lourdes, Comber and St. Joachim.
“We focus on the of the indoctrinations of the Church, led by the Diocese of London and our council is structured under three pillars – faith, service and social justice,” said Susi Dupuis, of the Visitation Parish Catholic Women’s League.
The current membership includes 124 participants.
Mary Ann Hamlin, service chairperson of the committee, went to work surveying members last Winter to determine what services were important to the organization.
“We did a workshop and survey with members to determine what to focus on and three topics were of priority,” said Hamlin. “The Food Bank, funeral lunches and ‘the buddy system,’ in which members look after other members to keep them in touch with our current affairs…especially for seniors and shut ins.”
A committee was formed to oversee the collection of goods and organize a monthly drive for the Tilbury Food Bank, which currently serves over 300 families. The drive began last May and will run until May of 2025.
Hamlin takes pride in the fact that she is able to help organize the volunteers, co-ordinate the trailer and make sure the donations get to where they need to be. She also provides a monthly update as to what inventory has been taken in.
“The drive has been going very well, however, were looking to engage the community a bit more,” Hamlin said. “We like the ease of using a trailer and parking lot for the drive.”
The pair feel that providing to those in need of food bank support is the very essence of what the Parish provides to the area.
“Our volunteers are excited and happy to provide this service without hesitation,” said Hamlin. “It’s a good group of people coming together on a number of different levels.”
They wish to acknowledge the help of The Iron Kettle and Tim Hortons in Comber for the donation of boxes for the food items.
“We gratefully acknowledge Sue and Clark Denomey of Taycar Trailers in Comber for generously offering the use of a trailer,” Hamlin added.
The next food drive will take place on Sunday November 24th and again on Sunday December 29th.
To contact the Visitation Parish Catholic Women’s League you can look them up on Facebook.
If people are in need of support, they are asked to contact the Tilbury Food Bank.
