—Haldimand Press photo by Nick Fearns.
HAGERSVILLE/CALEDONIA — Food banks in Caledonia and Hagersvillle received a generous donation from local farmers last week.
The local branch of the Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO) donated more than 600 kilograms of locally grown chicken to the Hagersville Food Bank and the Caledonia & District Food Bank.
The donation to the Hagersville Food Bank was held at Sgt. Andrew Harnett Memorial Park on the morning of August 31.
Pieter Wonder, the chair of the Hagersville Food Bank, said they are currently supporting around 80 families.
“Over the past six years, the Chicken Farmers of Ontario has donated to just our food bank in Hagersville, approximately 6,000 kilograms of chicken,” said Wonder. “That is approximately 43,000 meals.”
“It’s a wonderful thing to be able to get this,” added Wonder. He said many of the volunteers at the food bank would be spending the afternoon sorting and preparing the chicken for distribution.
Wonder said the food bank clients “benefit greatly” from the “excellent source of protein.”
“Unfortunately, we are getting busier all the time,” he noted.
Wonder pointed out that Haldimand County has a number of different food banks, and together they support around 200 to 250 families.
The donation part of the CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks program is done in partnership with Feed Ontario. Since the program’s introduction, more than 12.5 million chicken meals have been delivered to food banks across the province.
Haldimand County Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley said it was “heartwarming” to see such generosity in the community.
“I understand Haldimand County has 54 chicken farmers and they work so hard to ensure safe, healthy, and locally grown chicken is accessible to Ontarians,” said the mayor.
Henk Lise is one of those local farmers.
Lise said it was important for him to able to give back to the community he lives and works in. He also thanked the food bank directors and volunteers for all the work they did, as well supporting the community.
Haldimand County Ward 4 Councillor Marie Trainer said she was glad the community of Hagersville had the food bank and its volunteers.
“I hate to think of what would happen without you,” she said, also thanking the farmers for the “fabulous” donation.
Andrea Velduizen, CFO board director for District 4, said proteins like chickens were among some of the most needed items at food banks.
“As a chicken farmer, I value that I’m able to grow safe, healthy, locally grown, high-quality protein,” said Veldhuizen. “Not everyone can afford protein, but everyone needs protein in their diet, so I am super grateful to be able to give back to my local community with the resource I have.”
Later in the day, a similar donation was made to the Caledonia Food Bank, helping spread the support across the community.
