Anonymous donor helps Agincourt food bank.
Real Canadian Superstore Progress Avenue location manager Jacinta Wong, left, assists Agincourt Community sevices operations manager Eric Cheung Tuesday as they load up an anonymous $1,000 food donation for the bank.
Staff photo/DANIELLE MILLEY
Scarborough residents stepped up to help those in need after reading that the Agincourt Community Services Association food bank was running low.
A story published in the Thursday, Aug. 26, edition of The Scarborough Mirror shared that summer is a critical time for the food bank and its users as donations drop during the traditionally slow months of July, August and September.
Readers responded to the request for help by making an online donation. Eric Cheung, operations manager with ACS, said the agency just started taking online donations at the beginning of the year and were averaging one a month, but since the story ran they've received about 10 donations of $100 or more.
"It just brought a lot of attention to (the issue) with people bringing in more food," he said, adding there have been more calls from people wondering how they could donate and what items were needed.
An anonymous donation of $1,000 on Tuesday, Sept. 7, meant Cheung was able to bring dozens of boxes of cereal and boxes of macaroni and cheese back to the food bank, as well as dozens of cans of spaghetti sauce, chick peas, tuna, kidney beans, alphagetti, beans and diced tomatoes along with dozens of jars of smooth peanut butter from the Real Canadian Superstore on Progress Avenue.
The van couldn't have fit another item, but despite the huge haul the new donations will likely only last until the end of the month. he said.
"Unfortunately whatever comes in goes out right away," Cheung said.
"That's the reality we're facing."
And the need is always growing.
Normally the large December food drives would get them through to May or June, but this year the shelves were nearly bare by March.
Items always in demand include: baby food and formula, beans and lentils, canned fruits and vegetables, canned fish and meat, dried pasta and tomato sauce, rice, and canned or powdered milk. Cheung said food that appeals to their diverse clientele is always welcome such as halal foods.
Visit www.agincourtcommunityservices.com to donate.