At the Salvation Army Food Bank November 28, Lorne Currie, retired firefighter and organizer of the Saugeen Shores Firefighters Community Food Drive, as he received an envelope with totals from this year’s efforts from Salvation Army Community & Family Services Director, Major/Pastor Donna Kennedy (left) and Volunteer and Kettle Coordinator Diane Thorne.

Hub Staff

Totals are in from the Saugeen Shores Fire Department’s Community Food Drive that took place November 25 and the community did not disappoint.

In just four hours at three different locations in Saugeen Shores, Southampton Foodland, Rowland's Independent, and Walmart, our firefighters collected a staggering 2,387 lbs of food and $2,457 in cash donations for the Salvation Army Food Bank, an increase of more than 530 lbs of food and $965 over last year.

2017 Story: Firefighters collect goods and funds for the food bank

2016 Story: Local firefighters braved all kinds of weather to benefit local food bank

Retired firefighter Lorne Currie organizes the annual drive. “That's amazing,” he said after hearing this year’s totals. “Helping others, that's what life's all about,” he added.

Currie gave huge praise to the Saugeen Shores firefighters. “Without the guys from both stations doing it this wouldn't be possible. They've always been willing to help,” he said. “We had most of the pick up trucks full and the fire van. It's just amazing.”

Salvation Army Community & Family Services Director, Major/Pastor Donna Kennedy, said they were extremely appreciative of all the firefighters’ work and efforts. “The cupboards were getting really, really empty,” she said. “They have now more than filled them and it will go a long way in helping for the Christmas hampers.”

Kennedy said that not only will the collections go to fill Christmas hampers for local families in need but they will also help the regular food bank usage. “This month [usage] is very high. We're at 88 families that we've assisted already,” Kennedy explained November 28, adding that Saugeen Shores is a very generous community.

“We just have to put the need out there and they meet it,” she said.

Rob Atkinson, Captain and Fire Prevention Officer with the Saugeen Shores Fire Department said in an email to the Hub November 29, “We thank the community for their generous support of the Salvation Army Food Bank.”

The Salvation Army is currently looking for volunteers for their annual Christmas Kettle campaign, which takes place each year during the Christmas season across Canada and funds raised go to supporting the work of the Salvation Army. The money raised in Saugeen Shores stays in Saugeen Shores.

Kettle Coordinator Diane Thorne said that volunteers collect at four locations in Saugeen Shores, Southampton Foodland, Rowland's Independent, Giant Tiger and Walmart; and said that shifts are two hours long.

If anyone is interested in volunteering for the Salvation Army Kettle campaign, they are asked to contact Diane at the Salvation Army Family Services in Port Elgin by phone at 519-389-3942 or by e-mail at salarmy.pefs@bmts.com.