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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, December 19, 2014 | 14 Fare Share holiday food drive stocks up for winter by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff With less than a week left in Fare Share food bank's annual Christmas food drive, volunteer organizers are hoping residents will use their holiday spirit to help make sure no one in Oakville goes hungry this season. "We are delighted with the first wave of food donations. Schools, businesses, churches, sports groups and individuals have been coming through for the less fortunate in our community. They have been bringing food to the food bank and dropping items at the Fare Share bins located at all Oakville grocery stores and at all Oakville Fire stations," said volunteer president Nancy Bromberg. "We are hopeful this momentum sustains itself since the groceries and monetary donations received at this time of year must carry us through to the spring of 2015 and beyond." Bromberg notes there is still a short supply of baby food with small and junior jars of fruit and vegetables, as well as sizes four and six diapers being especially in demand. Baby food and diapers are needed "Babies are the most vulnerable among us and the food bank volunteers are always concerned when it comes to these wee people," said Bromberg. "If you wish to discuss baby formula and other baby items, please feel free to call the food bank on Mondays and ask for Carol Ross, our baby food co-ordinator." The Christmas food drive continues until Wednesday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) with drop-off locations available at all Oakville grocery stores and fire stations, and Fare Share, 1240 Speers Rd., Unit 6. Other items in short supply include: canned tomatoes and ham; chunky stew; and luncheon meat. Financial donations are also appreciated -- with tax receipts provided -- to purchase perishable food items, such as meats and fish, cheese and fresh and frozen vegetables and fruit. As well, cash donations provide vouchers for families with children to use at local supermarkets for items such as milk and eggs. "Many food bank clients can no longer afford meat, like chicken and ground beef," said Bromberg. "Statistics Canada inflation data, as of July 2014, shows meat prices have climbed 11.5 per cent in the past year. "But with the support of the Oakville community, we have been able to purchase chicken and ground beef for our clients over the past 10 years." Fare Share is a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers, and receives no government funding. Client visits on the rise The local food bank saw client visits increase 12 per cent in October over last year at the same time. In October 2013, 327 families visited Fare Share, while the food bank served 365 families this year during the same month. "With our emergency order clients, we are serving well in excess of 1,200 people per month... and more than 7,000 kilograms of food is distributed monthly," stated Bromberg. The food bank volunteer president also noted Food Banks Canada recently issued its 2014 HungerCount report, which states in Ontario, 36.9 per cent of people helped by food banks are children, while in Oakville that figure is 40 per cent. For more information, visit www. oakvillefoodbank.com. MVL LEASING LIMITED 1064 SOUTH SERVICE RD. E, OAKVILLE, ON LEASE ANY YEAR, MAKE, OR MODEL 2013 M-b gl550 aMg $ 2013 NissaN gt-r black editioN $ 81,900 86,900 40,890 kms 17,566 kms 905-849-6995 · www.MVL.ca Boxing Day Sale StartS NOW! Hurry in for Best Selection! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from your friends at Kensington Lawns Al Paul Tyler Robin Julie Tony Karl and Barbara Visit your local animal shelter and adopt a pet, it will save their lives and add to yours! Quantitie s are Limit ed Portables Central Vacs Ensemble Packages 550 AL & ILLYA 905-802-0158 www.kensingtonlawns.com anD Many More iteMS all PriceD to clear! FCT congratulates Twane Boettinger FCT's Volunteer of the Year Award Recipient for 2014 Twane has been recognized by his peers for inspiring many of his colleagues to participate in the Canadian Cancer Society's Relay for Life and leading FCT's efforts in raising over $50,000 for cancer research since 2010. FCT is making a donation to a charity of Twane's choice in recognition of his outstanding contribution. Don MacLeod, SVP (left) and Michael LeBlanc, CEO (right) present the award to Twane (middle) at Employee Awards event on Dec 4 SALES · SERVICE · SELECTION · QUALITY BRANDS · INSTALLATION Clean Starts Here! 2379 Trafalgar Road 905-257-6145 Trafalgar Ridge Shopping plaza (in the Winners/ HomeSense plaza) Beside Scotia Bank. Fri. Dec. 19 10 - 5, Sat. Dec. 20 10- 4, Sun. Dec. 21 12 - 4, Mon. Dec. 22 10-4, Tues Dec. 23 closed, Wed. Dec 24 closed, Thurs. Dec. 25 closed, Dec. 26 Boxing Day 12-4, Sat. Dec. 27 10-4