|
|
|
|
|
Afton Park residents rally to restock local food bank
Residents' council leads heartfelt month-long food drive to support River City Vineyard amid supply shortages
5/28/2025
-
Deron Hamel
|
|
Afton Park residents Allen Hallett and Janet Nevin are pictured with some of the food residents' council collected for River City Vineyard.
|
|
When Afton Park Place residents' council members learned there was a serious shortage of essential foods and goods at a Sarnia food bank, they sprang into action to organize a food drive, seeking the help of other residents as well as team members and their families.
Like many Canadian food banks, River City Vineyard has been grappling with supply shortages recently. According to the most recent data from Food Banks Canada, nearly 30 per cent of Canadian food banks are struggling to keep supplies in stock as demand rises.
The Afton Park residents' council hosted a month-long food drive in April to support River City Vineyard and other charities, helping to put supplies back on their shelves.
“The photo (see above) is only a small portion of items collected throughout the month of April,” Afton Park Place life enrichment manager Tara Klompstra tells S&R Today. “The outpour of donations was heartwarming.”
Residents' council advocate Janet Nevin was “especially proud” to be part of the movement, Tara adds, noting Janet has “a special connection” to the River City Vineyard church community.
“She couldn't say thank you enough to the life enrichment department for helping organize a project so dear to her heart,” Tara says. “Janet would check in daily to see if more items were being donated. I loved seeing her smiling face each time; (she is) so thankful and full of community pride.”
Another residents' council member, Allen Hallett, also played a large role to ensure the fundraiser's success.
“This is the first time we did something like this at Afton, and I hope it isn't the last,” Allen says.
In addition to its food bank, River City Vineyard offers an emergency shelter, Sunday church services, a “snack pack” program, a shower program, a clothing donation exchange and a community garden.
Its mission is to ensure anyone in need can have access to these necessities while feeling loved and accepted.
“There is a sign at the front entrance of River City that says, 'Come as you are, you will be loved'; the same words can be said about how all members of the Afton team feel when welcoming a new resident through the front doors – come as you are, you will be loved.”
Do you have a story you would like to share with S&R Today? If so, please contact the newsroom at deron(at)axiomnews.com.
If you have feedback on this story, please e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.com.
|
|
|