HAGERSVILLE—The Hagersville Chamber of Commerce has launched an initiative to tackle food insecurity in the community while fostering camaraderie among local businesses and organizations.
The event, described as a “co-opertition” – a friendly cooperative competition – aims to gather donations for the Hagersville Food Bank, whose services are in greater demand than ever due to rising food costs and inflation.
“This idea was inspired by a tradition from our Brantford office (of Millards),” said Diane Paxton, a member of the Hagersville Chamber of Commerce and one of the organizers of the event. “In Brantford, businesses challenge each other to see who can collect the most donations for the food bank. The loser buys the winner a pizza party. We thought it was a fantastic idea and decided to adapt it for Hagersville.”
The Hagersville initiative kicked off on November 12, 2024 and has already gained traction, with four businesses confirmed to participate and more expected to join.
The drive will conclude on December 6 during the Hagersville Santa Claus Parade. Businesses and organizations will bring the food they’ve collected in decorated grocery carts, which will be pushed along the parade route.
“The idea is to create a visual representation of the community’s generosity while encouraging spectators to donate,” Paxton explained. “We’ve coordinated with local grocery stores to borrow carts, and participants will fill them with their collected items. Along the parade route, attendees will also be encouraged to contribute directly to the carts.”
Rob Phillips, President of the Hagersville Chamber of Commerce, shared his enthusiasm for the project.
“At the end of the day, the real winner is the Hagersville Food Bank,” he said. “With rising food costs and inflation, food banks everywhere are seeing unprecedented demand. This initiative allows us to give back in a meaningful way.”
According to Phillips, the chamber has seen a strong positive response from local businesses, community groups, and the food bank itself.
“When we first announced this idea, the chair of the food bank’s board came to see me personally to express their gratitude. They were thrilled that the community was coming together to support their mission,” he said.
The idea of “co-opertition” perfectly captures its spirit. While participants compete to collect the most donations, the emphasis remains on working together for a common cause.
“It’s not about who wins,” said Paxton. “It’s about how much we can accomplish as a community. Every contribution, whether it’s one can or a full grocery bag, makes a difference.”
Plus the winners get a pizza party and bragging rights.
The parade promises to be a festive culmination of the effort. Each cart will bear the Hagersville Chamber logo along with the name of the participating business or organization. This not only highlights the contributors’ roles but also adds a fun, competitive edge to the event.
“We’re hoping for some good-natured banter along the route,” said Phillips. “Participants might even compete to see who can collect the most donations from spectators on the day of the parade.”
Phillips also highlighted the larger purpose behind the initiative: “During the pandemic, we saw significant demand for food banks, but government assistance programs provided some relief. Now, with many of those programs ending and inflation continuing to rise, food banks are under even more pressure,” he explained. “This event is our way of addressing that need and making a difference locally.”
In addition to businesses, the chamber has opened the challenge to all community groups and organizations.
“We want this to be as inclusive as possible,” Paxton said. “You don’t have to be a chamber member or even a business to participate. If you’re a group that wants to help, we’re happy to have you on board.”
The “co-opertition” has sparked enthusiasm across the community. Phillips noted that even within his own dealership, staff and customers have eagerly embraced the initiative: “We’ve decorated bins in our waiting lounge, put up posters, and encouraged everyone to contribute. It’s been wonderful to see the response.”
The timeline for the event is straightforward. Participating businesses and groups will collect donations up until December 6, when the carts will be showcased during the Santa Claus Parade. Afterward, all donations will be transported to the food bank.
Dave Lane, Coordinator with the Hagersville Food Bank, said the food bank was “really excited” about the initiative.
“The Hagersville community has always been very supportive, and we count on the donations in November and December to get us through the winter months, which are usually pretty lean,” said Lane. “It’s also when our clients need us the most.”
“We are hoping for a huge turnout for the parade, and we know the businesses will do their part,” added Lane. “We can’t wait to weigh things in and stock the shelves.”
“This is about showing solidarity and support,” said Paxton. “It’s a way to demonstrate that Hagersville is a community that looks out for its own. And it’s a fun, engaging way to do it.”
“We hope this becomes an annual tradition,” Phillips added. “The challenges we’re facing as a community aren’t going away overnight, but events like this show that when we come together, we can make a real impact.”
Anyone interested in joining the effort is encouraged to email: info@hagersvillechamber.ca.
“We’ll never say no to someone who wants to help,” said Phillips. “This is about coming together for a shared goal – supporting the food bank and our community.”
