The Orillia Lighthouse Soup Kitchen and Shelter is seeking the community's support to help fill its freezers.
To do that, the Lighthouse has re-launched its Meat the Needs campaign.
“Any donation of meat helps to cook in large quantities for meals,” said Lighthouse operations manager Trish Holloway. “You can buy what’s on sale. When you’re picking up meat for your family, pick up some extra for those struggling with food security in our community.”
Staff and volunteers at the soup kitchen and shelter serve 14 breakfast and dinner meals to men at the shelter. As well, 40 lunches are served every day to any man, youth, woman and family using the soup kitchen facilities.
“There are times when we can’t serve a nutritious meal because we don’t have options like meat or milk or eggs or veggies,” said Holloway. “We have to turn to more processed items. Soup kitchen clients are already vulnerable and we want to give them the best meal we can.”
Items running low in the kitchen include meat, such as chicken, ground beef and hot dogs; pantry items, such as spaghetti sauce, tuna, coffee and Coffee-Mate, peanut butter, sugar, milk and eggs.
“We have a monthly meat that we serve, but anything on sale is welcome,” said Holloway.
And there are many ways to help, she said.
“There’s a freezer at Foodland where people can buy and leave meat. Our volunteers pick up the meat later.”
Holloway would like to see local grocery stores step up with the same offer.
“We could even provide freezers for the stores to keep our meat in,” she said. “And if companies are interested in sponsoring to help fill a freezer, they should reach out to us.”
At times, Holloway said, community members have turned birthday gifts into donations for the Lighthouse, and that’s always a good way of contributing so the non-profit can meet its needs.
Community members are urged to help replenish the dwindling supply by dropping off items at any time at 48 Peter St. S. or by bringing in grocery cards so staff or volunteers can purchase fresh food.
Monetary donations can be delivered in-person or made online at orillialighthouse.ca. All donations over $20 will be given a tax receipt.
“Giving isn’t just at Christmas and Easter,” Holloway said. “People are hungry all year and we need your help in helping others.”
For further information, contact Holloway at [email protected] or 705-329-2265.
