DUNNVILLE—It’s been five years since Dunnville resident Rhonda Hajling was inspired to start a grassroots food drive supporting the Dunnville Salvation Army Food Bank. In that time, the number of participants has doubled from 30 to over 60, with the effort producing a milestone 2,000-pound donation in 2025.
Hajling is back at it again this year, challenging the community to participate and make this year the best drive yet.
While she will happily accept donations large and small toward her effort, Hajling’s drive is built around the concept of a reverse advent calendar. Each year, she posts a list of items, one per day, over a month-long period.
“That way it doesn’t seem overwhelming or like it’s too much financially,” said Hajling. “It’s just one little thing that goes in a box and by the end of the month you’ve got this huge donation you can make.”
Hajling knows the struggle to feed families is real, and just as prevalent in her home community as it is across the country.
“It was a struggle initially when I started. I felt bad asking people to make a donation because I know it’s tough out there,” she reflected. “Through social media, and I pester a lot of people, it’s been growing. Every year we’ve been getting a few more people that join in. Last year I had a couple people that couldn’t do it financially, which I understand, but we had a couple others join, so it evened out.”
While the reverse calendar doesn’t begin until February 1, Hajling said some participants are eager to get the ball rolling, with donations already starting to arrive on her doorstep.
“My basement is getting full. I’ll start putting it in a bedroom and work my way to the living room, and then we take it in at the end of the month,” she said.
While she admitted the annual effort takes sustained effort, sometimes leaving her feeling like a “pain in the neck,” the end result is always worth it.
Delivery day is always exciting, with Hajling bringing all the donations, stored throughout her house, to the main floor where an assembly line of volunteers congregates to transport those items to the food bank using an enclosed trailer donated each year by a friend.
“When we got to the food bank, I had them go in and the girls there explained the whole process of the point system they use there,” said Hajling. “It was very eye-opening for some of the new people to see how little they have on some of the shelves. They tell me they’re seeing elderly people now having to use the food bank to make ends meet. It’s very sad.”
Hajling noted, “It’s not like I’m well off but I’ve never been in that situation where I’ve had to use the food bank. It’s nice feeling like you can give back.”
She chose the Salvation Army Food Bank as the recipient of her donation because “everything is accounted for. When we bring our food in, every box or bag has to be weighed. They record that weight and then when stuff goes out it’s weighed as well, so there’s an accountability.”
She called the reverse calendar a guideline that doesn’t need to be followed to participate.
“A lot of people, if they see something on sale for a good sale price they’ll buy multiples of that and then not contribute some of the other items…. I’ve had people send me e-transfers, just a few dollars, and ask me to go shop for them. I’m pretty frugal, I’ll look for a good deal and get the most bang for their buck.”
Hajling even has international support, adding, “A lady that lived in Dunnville but now lives in Italy sends me a monetary donation and asks me to shop for her. I’ll shop, take a picture, and send it to her.”
In addition to staple items, Hajling’s 2026 list includes essentials that people sometime don’t consider when donating to food banks.
“A lot of times people will donate, say, a cake mix, but that cake mix takes oil to make it,” said Hajling. “A lot of these people that are on these tight budgets can’t afford the price of a bottle of oil. If it takes certain ingredients, some people will never have those ingredients.”
As such, Hajling is looking for donations of such items, including flour, oil, and sugar. She also noted the importance of donating hygiene products and baby items to the food bank as well.
Hajling is hoping even more community members might feel inspired to pitch in, urging anyone interested to send her a text message at 905-774-3081, noting she is willing and able to pick up donations from participants if they have no means of dropping them off to her.
“Every little bit helps,” she said. “The need is growing each year. If we could all do a little bit, it makes others’ lives a little easier.”
Reverse Advent Calendar
February 1 – box of cereal
February 2 – peanut butter/jam
February 3 – two litre bottle of juice
February 4 – boxed potatoes or boxed milk
February 5 – macaroni and cheese
February 6 – canned fruit
February 7 – canned tomatoes
February 8 – canned tuna, etc.
February 9 – dessert
February 10 – jar of apple sauce
February 11 – deodorant
February 12 – box of crackers
February 13 – package of rice/noodles
February 14 – pasta
February 15 – oatmeal
February 16 – pasta sauce
February 17 – soup
February 18 – jar of salsa/chips
February 19 – two litre bottle of juice
February 20 – juice boxes
February 21 – toothpaste
February 22 – box of granola bars
February 23 – baby food
February 24 – bars of soap/liquid soap
or feminine hygiene products
February 25 – bottle of shampoo
February 26 – package of cookies
February 27 – snacks for lunches
February 28 – cake mix/cooking oil
