By Joanne Dorr
The Haldimand Press
CALEDONIA—On November 2, 2022 from 4 to 8 p.m., the Caledonia and District Food Bank (CDFB) invites everyone to their 103 Inverness Street location in Caledonia to celebrate 35 years of the community supporting CDFB’s ability to help those in need.
Current CDFB Manager, Dorette Allemang, says, “We want to say thank you to the community for making it possible to continue our mission of helping those in need.”
CDFB started in 1986 when Carolyn Beveridge of the Caledonia District Multi Service Centre observed many clients experiencing food scarcity.
Beveridge approached the executive with this information and presented the idea of opening a food bank. After consultation with citizens, volunteer agencies, and churches, Beveridge determined there was a matching need for food and a presence of donors. Consequently, the food bank committee was formed.
Mission Services in Hamilton mentored this newly formed committee by sharing their organizational and charitable knowledge. The committee then began to spread the word and on December 4, 1987 the Caledonia Food Bank opened their doors. The following Christmas five families received Christmas hampers. Over three decades later, similar hampers were handed out to 163 people.
CDFB and the Community Support Centre are neighbours, making it easy to refer clients to programs located in the same building. Programs like Join us for Dinner, Helping Hands Haldimand, and the Backpack Program combine to provide clothing, hot meals, and school supplies to families. These programs depend on donations from the local community to operate. Allemang gratefully adds, “The Caledonia community is amazing for helping out!”
CDFB is a member of Feed Ontario and Food Banks Canada, provincial and federal organizations that quantify the demand on food banks and advocate for support at the government level. They also work with the Dairy Farmers to support local food banks with donations. Currently Feed Ontario is helping CDFB with a program called ‘One More Bite’ that involves the Food Basics location in Caledonia. Allemang explains, “Any frozen items in good condition that they can’t sell before the best before date, they freeze and we get here. We have some sort of meat every week.”
Allemang reveals, “As things change, we have to look into buying new things.”
For example, as grocery stores phase out the use of plastic bags, they now need to purchase their own bags. Allemang also shares that the increased price in food has seized donors’ capacity to give. Allemang says, “Because of this we need to go out and buy items we’re short on.”
This underscores the importance of both food and financial donations. With CDFB now seeing an increase of 523 client visits this year, it is clear the community’s compassion and kindness is unyielding.
CDFB accepts food donations at their 103 Inverness Street on Thursday Mornings between 9 a.m. and noon. Financial donations can be made by e-transfer to caledoniafoodbank1@gmail.com with your name and address in the comment field.
Anyone interested in volunteering can call 905-765-9278.
