Sirens were blaring across Huntingdon on November 29 as volunteer members of the local fire department and Paraxion paramedics fanned out to collect food donations for the La Bouffe Additionnelle food pantry.
The annual food drive raised over $3,140 in donations, including a generous contribution from the Huntingdon Optimist Club and the municipality of Havelock. Volunteers also collected 1,140 kilograms of donated food as part of the campaign.
La Bouffe also received over 742 kilograms of non-perishable food items from food drives held by the Huntingdon CLSC, the CPE Abracadabra early childhood centre in Saint-Antoine-Abbé, and the Huntingdon Huskies hockey teams. The municipality of Saint-Anicet also provided a generous donation of $2,500.
La Bouffe director Marine Mailloux said she was especially grateful for the community’s support. November has been an especially difficult month for the food pantry, with a record number of new clients and food assistance requests. She explained that many families and seniors are no longer able to make ends meet, mainly due to the rising cost of living and rent. “Unfortunately, they have to cut back on the only thing that they can, which is food,” she said. The organization was forced once again to issue a public plea for donations of fresh fruit and vegetables to meet additional demand.
Both the Huntingdon and Ormstown IGA supermarkets, which are run by the Turenne family, have been collecting donations as well, which will be delivered in the form of gift cards. Ferme Quinn has also been very helpful, donating Christmas decorations to brighten the Huntingdon-based location ahead of the holiday season and delivering at least 400 Christmas food baskets.