By: Michael Bennett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Ridgetown Independent News
The local agriculture community once again stepped up to the plate to help the needy get some food on their plates.
The Kent Federation of Agriculture collected close to $10,000 in food and monetary donations at its 12th annual Agriculture Day on Tuesday, Feb. 10.
Local farmers and agriculture-based businesses dropped off fruits, vegetables and canned goods, as well as monetary donations, at the Salvation Army Church in Chatham.
The donations will be split evenly between the Salvation Army and Outreach for Hunger food banks.Outreach for Hunger will use donations to assemble food hampers for distribution to its clients.
The Salvation Army’s donations will be used to stock the food bank shelves in Ridgetown, Blenheim, Tilbury and Wallaceburg.
The monetary donations will be used to purchase fresh hamburger.
Jim Brackett, KFA president, said Food Day organizers were very pleased with the agricultural community’s generous response in their donations to help the needy.
“This will go a long way to help provide healthy meals to people who are struggling,” Brackett said.
The $10,000 mark is close to what the Food Day collection takes in every year.
“We’re happy with what we’ve taken in, but I think we can still do better,” he said.
Brackett said the KFA is already looking ahead to next year and getting more members involved by establishing collection goals for them to meet.
This year’s campaign, however, isn’t quite over yet, as the KFA is still collecting both food and monetary donations pledged by individuals and businesses.
If anyone in the public is still interested in donating, you can contact the KFA at 519-674-1500 or by email to kfa@uoguelph.ca.
KFA’s Agriculture Day is held on the second Tuesday of February, in conjunction with Canada’s Agriculture Day.
