By Matt Weingarden
Over 150 volunteers came together on Family Day for the annual “Food for Families on Family Day” event, packing 1,500 grocery bags to support vulnerable families throughout Windsor-Essex.
Hosted at Sobeys St. Clair Beach in Lakeshore, the initiative raised approximately $30,000, allowing organizers to purchase a large supply of non-perishable groceries. These groceries will be distributed by the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society, the Windsor Essex County Food Bank Association, and the Belle River-Rochester Goodfellows Inc.
Organizer Paul Lue Pann emphasized the community-driven nature of the event: “We raise money to get some food to help people in the community. So, it’s people of the community, for the community.”
Lue Pann highlighted the ongoing need for food support in the region, noting that one in four Windsor-Essex residents faces food insecurity. He explained that although food banks often see surges in donations around the holidays, support tends to drop off in February, making this event especially timely.
Over the past several years, the event has become increasingly efficient. “Now we do about 1,500 bags, which is about $30,000 worth of food. But now we have a nice, streamlined process,” Lue Pann said. He hopes to expand the initiative next year to include even more organizations and reach more families in need.
The event was made possible with the help of volunteers from Co-operators PLP Financial Services, Sobeys St. Clair Beach, LendCity Mortgages, KW Signature Realty, and Rafih Auto Group.
Rick Anderson, president of the Belle River-Rochester Goodfellows, expressed gratitude for the 300 bags his group received to distribute: “It’s amazing. There’s a lot of families out there that need help. This is a great way to help them out.”
Anderson also pointed out that food insecurity often goes unseen: “People don’t understand. They don’t see it. There’s a lot of people that need food out there. A lot of hurting families.” He added, “It’ll help a lot. Every little bit helps. It’s a wonderful program.”
Sobeys St. Clair Beach store manager Rob Hayes says “This is a very special day for us…its great to see so many volunteers to make this happen for families in need in our community. This event is a key part of our core values at Sobeys.”