Food Bank still needs to raise 200K meals to reach summer campaign goal

With summer winding down, a summer-long campaign by the local food bank is also coming to an end.

It’s the sixth year for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region’s Full Bellies, Happy Hearts initiative. CEO Kim Wilhelm was on The Mike Farwell Show on Monday and said this year, they set an ambitious goal of raising 1.5 million meals.

“We are so close — 1.3 million [meals] to date,” Wilhelm said. “I can see the finish line, we’re getting there.”

Wilhelm described the community support for the campaign as being “incredible” but said they’re still about 200,000 meals shy of their goal.

The Full Bellies, Happy Hearts campaign has a special focus on assisting kids in-need over the summer while they’re out of class and no longer have access to in-school food programs. The agency has seen concerning numbers when it comes to struggling youth in the community.

“About 35 per cent of individuals accessing food assistance here in Waterloo Region is children under the age of 18,” explained Wilhelm.

There’s still time to help the food bank reach its campaign goal. Wilhelm said financial donations are being matched by the Allan Bush Investment Team until Aug. 31.

“Typically, one dollar provides two meals. Because of this match, one dollar will provide four meals — and you’ll get an immediate tax receipt.”

The public can also drop off non-perishable food donations, including in collection bins at many participating grocery stores.

Some of the most in-demand items for the campaign are apple sauce, fruit and pudding cups, granola bars, juice boxes, and peanut butter.