August 2023 Food Drive: The First of Many

With our first food drive concluded, it is time to say goodbye to the mountain of food, school supplies, clothes and other items, that has accumulated over the past few days in our living room. On August 28th, The Compass Food Bank recieved all donations. Here's the final breakdown of the results.

For our food drive, spanning across Lorne Park and Erin Mills neighbourhoods and a total of 500 homes, we recieved 823 food items, weighing 928 Lbs. Many of our incredible neighbours donated multiple items on The Compass' "Most Need Items" list such as breakfast cereal, Kraft Dinner, oatmeal, pasta and pet food. Aside from food, we also recieved very generuous school supplies and clothes.

The issue of homelessness and food insecurity is a pressing concern, especially for children who are disproportionately affected. Today, in an environment of rising living costs and inflation, fewer people can donate, while more individuals rely on food banks. Every year, the number of people who depend on The Compass increases, and unfortunately this year, the number of weekly clients went up from over 1800 to over 1900, setting a record high. Among these tens of hundreds of people, one third are children under the age of 18. That's over 600 children who visit The Compass weekly.

August is one of the toughest times for The Compass Food Bank. It is a time where little to no donations come in, and with over 19000 pounds of food given weekly, it is impossible to keep up. This is why YOUR donations have been essential. You have given a crucial helping hand during a time of great need. You have not only filled the stomachs of these hundreds of people but their hearts as well - through your kindness and generosity, you have showed them that people still care. Together, we have given a meal to each and every one of these people, and that in itself is an achievement that we should all be proud of.

Additionally, we want to extend an invitation to each of you to join the 17th Compass "Walk the Walk," event, scheduled for September 16th. We have registered as a team named "Youth Volunteers Team." This event enables us to join hands and raise funds for The Compass Food Bank. We invite all youth aged 12-18, as well as their families and friends, to join us via this link: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/thecompass/p2p/walk2023/team/youth-volunteers-team//

The success of our neighbourhood food drive speaks volumes about the beautiful community we are fortunate to be a part of. Let's continue this journey together, striving to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those around us.