This year’s annual Elliot Lake Volunteer Firefighters Association Food Drive will be on a drive-thru basis, and not door-to-door as in previous years, due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Firefighters will be hosting a cash only drive-thru collection on Saturday Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot at the former Lester B. Pearson Civic Centre adjacent to the local Tim Hortons.
“In the past we collected food door-to-door and it was measured in tons of food, translated into a dollar value. I know it was enough for the (Food Bank) Christmas hampers and a few months more,” said Association president William Elliott. “This year, because of COVID, we’re doing all ‘cash’ - cash, cheque or debit (the City is loaning us three debit machines and the disinfectant wipes for them).”
The collection will see three easily accessible drive-thru lanes in the parking lot, according to Elliott.
“Over the past two years that I have been involved with this event, firefighters have raised over $30,000 in food product and cash donations,” said Len Kutchaw, president of the Elliot Lake Food Bank.
“The Food Bank has distributed approximately 300 Christmas Hampers over this period,” he added.
Since the pandemic began in March, the Food Bank has seen less traffic and with the pandemic is expecting need to increase.
“The food bank was not too busy over the summer as the town was picking up food for anyone who phoned them and the fact that the government was also giving out additional monies,” he said. “As the government money is being depleted, we are now seeing an increase in clients. We have a lot of new families with children. We expect that there will certainly be an increase.”
Currently, the food bank has 365 hampers registered and expects that to increase to around 500 by the time hampers are ready for delivery or pick up. Any food or funds left over after the hampers are done will be used to restock the shelves at the food bank.
Elliott said those unable to attend the drive through can make a donation directly to the food bank with hours of operation Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. It is located at 4 Charles Walk across from the LCBO.