Lakefield Foodland Giving Free Turkeys To Those In Need On Dec. 13

Lakefield Foodland is brightening the holidays by giving away free turkeys to local needy families on Dec. 13.

SARAH BLESTOE AT LAKEFIELD FOODLAND AND ROSS GAVE AWAY TURKEYS LAST YEAR TO THOSE IN NEED ON DEC. 14 PHOTO COURTESY OF LAKEFIELD FOODLAND.

Turkeys are given away starting at 11 a.m. until supplies last at 1 Queen St. They are limited to one per family while supplies last.

“A lot of people can use a helping hand at this time of year. We want to offer our assistance to the people in Lakefield and area,” said Ross Bletsoe, Lakefield Foodland owner. “We have purchased frozen turkeys to give away to those in need. We support a lot of local charities, non-profit organizations and sports groups but this turkey giveaway lets us put our assistance right on the table for those who need it most.”

Recipients are asked to provide an address with a postal code of ‘K0L’ and identification prior to receiving a turkey.

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Forest Hill Real Estate Hosting Second Pumpkin Giveaway Food Drive For St. Vincent de Paul

Forest Hill Real Estate Inc. Brokerage is bringing back its ‘Annual Great Pumpkin Giveaway’ with a two-day event to collect non-perishable goods for St. Vincent de Paul this weekend.

Last year, Forest Hill gave away over 500 pumpkins and collected three bins of food items. File Photo.

The event runs from runs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on both days. Saturday is at Highlands Park in Millbrook (where Station Drive meets Pristine Trail) while Sunday is at Jackson Creek Meadows (where Chandler Cresent meets Avery Avenue).

The real estate business requests one non-perishable food item in exchange for a pumpkin (one pumpkin per family while supplies last). The event also has contests, giveaways, prizes and more.

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Lakefield Foodland Giving Free Turkeys To Those In Need For Dec. 14

Lakefield Foodland is getting in the holiday giving spirit by giving away free turkeys to local families in need will be brightening Christmas for local families on Dec. 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sarah Blestoe at Lakefield Foodland and Ross gave away turkeys last year to those in need on Dec. 15 PHOTO COURTESY OF LAKEFIELD FOODLAND.

“A lot of people can use a helping hand at this time of year. We want to offer our assistance to the people in Lakefield and area,” said Ross Bletsoe, Lakefield Foodland owner We have purchased frozen turkeys to give away to those in need. We support a lot of local charities, non-profit organizations, and sports groups, but this turkey giveaway lets us put our assistance ‘right on the table’ for those who need it most.”

Turkeys are limited to one per family while supplies last.

Recipients are asked to provide an address and identification prior to receiving a turkey.

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PTBO Strong With Peterborough Petes To Hold "Hockey For Hampers" Food Drive This Saturday

Not-for-profit group PTBO Strong is teaming up with the Peterborough Petes to hold a ‘Hockey for Hampers Food Drive” in support of Kawartha Food Share (KFS) this Saturday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

Food hampers will be made up to help the beneficiaries of KFS.

Non-perishable items are being accepted either at Greg’s No Frills on 230 George St. N. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or at the Peterborough Memorial Centre during game night.

Petes mascot Roger and a few players to be announced will be in attendance for the morning at No Frills to help collect any donated goods during the early hours of pickup.

PTBOStrong was formed in 2019 due to the opioid and homelessness crisis facing the City of Peterborough. Photo courtesy of PTBO Strong.

Tim Burke, PTBO Strong co-founder says his group raises critical funds and awareness for treatment around opioid addictions but wants to help the root of the problems.

“Our town has a lot of rough stuff going on,” said Tim Burke, PTBO Strong co-founder. “We have 13 methadone clinics and we don’t have any detox centres, it’s craziness. They’re all lined up.”

The Peterborough Petes play the Ottawa 67s this Saturday as the final leg of three consecutive days of games.

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Local Real Estate Holding Inaugural Pumpkin Giveaway In Food Drive For Local Food Banks

Forest Hill Real Estate Inc. Brokerage is getting in the Halloween spirit as they are hosting their first ‘Annual Great Pumpkin Giveaway’ at the corner of Chandler Crescent and Parkhill Road this Saturday.

File Photo.

The giveaway is from 1 p.m to 3 p.m.

The real estate business is requesting one non-perishable food item in exchange for a pumpkin (one pumpkin per family while supplies last). Complementary hot chocolate is being served at the event as well as free swag bags from The Ten Spot.

All food donations are being donated to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

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Third Annual 'Winter is Coming' Food Drive Launched to Aid Food Insecurity in Peterborough County

The third annual ‘Winter is Coming Food Drive’ has been launched by Kawartha Food Share (KFS) and Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith to aid in food insecurity for Peterborough County announced on Thursday.

Non-perishable goods and monetary donations are being collected on five separate dates in different locations to aid their respective townships.

“These food drives are always such a great way for community members living in the county,” said Ashlee Aitken, KFS general manager. “The rising cost of food has made this a very difficult year for KFS, our member agencies and of course, food insecure community members.”

Aitken says the food bank aided 7,000-8,000 people prior to the pandemic that began in March 2020. That number rose to 9,000 during the winter months. During the pandemic, demand would increase by 20 per cent to 12,000 people.

Smith is collecting at most of the listed dates and aided the campaign in its last two years. The grand total has raised almost $40,000 worth of cash and food donations in November 2020.

“I was a member of the Kinsmen Club and our motto was to 'serve the community's greatest needs' and I've always taken that to heart,” explained Smith. “I now have an opportunity where people recognize my name more than they did say 10 years ago with different groups. I have that opportunity to use my name and do good for my community.”

The following is a listed schedule of the ‘Winter is Coming’ campaign:

• Havelock Foodland collecting for Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Food Bank from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 1

• Lakefield Giant Tiger collecting for Lakefield Community Food Bank from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 20

• John’s Your Independent Grocer collecting for Bridgenorth Food Bank from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 28

• Buckhorn Foodland collecting for Rural Outreach from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 29

• Morello’s Independent Gorce collecting for North Kawartha Food Bank from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 5*

*A special drive to support the Apsley food bank, who has lost their community’s only grocery store in a fire late last year.

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Ice Cream Parlour Challenges Community To Fill Their Truck For Local Food Bank

One of Central Smith Creamery’s trucks will be filled with non-perishable food instead of ice cream for three weeks as they and over 20 other businesses, schools and organizations are gathering items for Kawartha Food Share beginning Friday.

Steve Paul, logistics manager (pictured) has been working for Central Smith Creamery for the past seven years. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The local creamery is challenging the community to drop off any non-perishable goods to any participating location in the Peterborough and surrounding area from Nov. 26 to Dec. 17. Residents can also drop their items at Central Smith.

On the final day, the Selwyn-based business will collect the goods from each drop-off spot and deliver them to Kawartha Food Share.

The following is a list of participating businesses:

• Modern Makers Market

• Hanoi House

• Taso’s

• SOS Save Our Soles

• Apollo Grill

• The Pizza Factory

• Two Dishes Cookshop

• Jesse’s Tap & Grill

• Kawartha Buttertart Factory

• Great Canadian RV

• Flossophy

• Ennismore Eagles

• Applewood Retirement Residence

• Nateure’s Plate

• Chemong Public School

• Women’s Business Network of Peterborough

• McWilliams Moving & Storage Ltd.

• Hi Ho Silver

• Kia Peterborough

• Full Tilt Cycle

• Dan Joyce Clothing

• Sullivan Law

• Publican House Brewery

• Style Boutique

• Holiday Inn

• Lakefield Herald

• Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce

Some businesses may not be able to hold and store the donated items and can ask for monetary donations instead.

Peppermint Bark is one of the featured ice cream flavours for Central Smith during the holiday season. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The food drive is a part of an annual community event the creamery runs during the holiday season.

“We always do something every year for Christmas time,” said Jillian Scates, Central Smith project manager. “We did a toy drive the year before. We thought this year we would do something for the community, challenge other businesses to get involved and donate during the holiday season.”

The following are the non-perishable food items that are being requested:

• Cereal

• Beans and Legumes

• Peanut Butter

• Rice Pasta Granola Bars

• Canned Vegetables

• Canned Fruit

• Soup

• Pasta Sauce

• Chili

• Children's Snacks

• Stews Oats

• Canned Meats

• Condiments

• Spices

• Broth / Stock

• Cooking Oil

• Juices

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Lakefield Foodland To Provide Those In Need With Turkey For Christmas

Lakefield Foodland will be brightening Christmas for local families by giving away free turkeys to those in need.

Sarah Blestoe at Lakefield Foodland. Photo courtesy of Lakefield Foodland.

“A lot of people can use a helping hand at this time of year especially now. We want to offer our assistance to the people in Lakefield and area,” said Ross Blestoe, co-owner. “Despite a significant shortage of turkeys available this holiday season, we have worked with our partners to secure enough Frozen Grade A turkeys to give away to those in need. We support a lot of local charities, non-profit organizations and sports groups, but this turkey give-away lets us put our assistance ‘right on the table’ for those who need it most.”

Turkeys will be given away, one per family, on Dec. 15 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. while supplies last.

Recipients are asked to show I.D. with an address.

For further information contact Ross Bletsoe 705-652-3999, rbletsoe@lakefieldfoodland.com or Ian Bletsoe 705-652-8232 Ext. 317, ian@lakefieldfoodland.com.

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Peterborough Sharing and Caring Gets a Head Start on Christmas Hampers with Food Drive

Peterborough and Surrounding Communities Sharing and Caring, a local non-profit group, is hosting a Christmas Food Drive at the Real Canadian Superstore in preparation for the distribution of Christmas Hampers.

Volunteers at the Real Canadian Superstore food drive. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

Members from Help Alliance Americas and Lufthansa Group will be at the Real Canadian Superstore daily from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. until Saturday.

Peterborough Sharing and Caring took root in November 2020, to offer support to families and individuals during the holidays in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last Christmas the group put together and distributed 82 hampers to those that needed them.

Since their start, they have been striving to grow to be able to help more people.

“Right now there are people who don’t have a job, people that can’t go out places due to COVID-19, people that just don’t have the money to get what they need for Christmas,” said Brad Hayes, Lufthansa Group.

The non profit recently distributed Thanksgiving Hampers and are now gearing up to put together hampers for Christmas.

This year their most needed items for their holiday hampers are stuffing, canned vegetables, cookies and snacks.

They are also accepting gift items help families and individuals that may not receive anything.

With money gathered from bottle drives, the group has purchased a large supply of Crayola products to include in Christmas Hampers, says Sandra Whitmore, founder of Peterborough Sharing and Caring.

“We will be doing another bottle drive in November around the Deer hunt,” she said.

To request a Christmas Hamper, email Whitmore at sammybou1966@gmail.com. To keep updated on fundraisers and food drives, join the Peterborough Caring and Sharing Facebook group.

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Porch Pirates for Good are Making Hunger Walk The Plank with Food Drive for Kawartha Food Share

The Porch Pirates for Good are setting sail to collect donations for the Kawartha Food Share and make food insecurity walk the plank on Oct. 30.

(FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) SUSAN DUNKLEY, LOIS TUFFIN, ASHLEE AITKEN AND MEGAN MURPHY at the Porch Pirates Food Drive in April. File Photo.

Volunteers from “Porch Pirates for Good” will once again hold a city-wide food drive to restock the dwindling shelves at Kawartha Food Share.

On Saturday October 30, 2021, anyone who is not ill or in self-isolation is being asked to leave a bag of non-perishable food items on their front porch.

Beginning at 9 a.m., volunteers will drive around the city and collect the items and deliver them to the Kawartha Food Share warehouse.

“It’s such an easy way for people to donate,” said Ashlee Aitkin, general manager, Kawartha Food Share. “You don’t have to leave your house, there are so many people that want to donate that have mobility issues or don’t drive. This is such an great way to give back to the community.”

Aitkin says the entire collection process takes around three hours, and the event usually completely fills the Kawartha Food Share warehouse.

“We have over 300 volunteers,” she said. “They’re amazing and we really couldn’t do this without them.”

Monetary donations can be made at http://www.kawarthafoodshare.com/donations.html. For every dollar donated, Kawartha Food Share leverages $6 of food purchasing power.

Participants are invited to dawn their best pirate costumes to greet volunteers on Oct. 30. Photo courtesy of Kawartha Food Share.

Aitkin says that while the Kawartha Food Share accepts any donations their most needed items currently are tuna, pasta, pasta sauce, soup, stew, apple sauce, nut-free granola bars and mac and cheese.

The goal for this years food drive is to collect 50,000 lbs of food.

“50,000 lbs sounds like a lot of food but when you feed 9,000 clients a month it’s actually not that much,” said Aitkin. “We distribute over 200,000 lbs of food every month, which is pretty crazy for a city our size.”

Businesses are also invited to participate in the Porch Pirates Food Drive. To take part, businesses must register by emailing susan@suzihomemaker.ca or calling 705-768-7894. A volunteer will pick up donations on Oct. 29.

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