On behalf of the City of Peterborough, Mayor Daryl Bennett today presented a cheque for $11,594.45 to Kawartha Food Share. The donated funds were collected as a result of a free two-hour parking promotion during the Christmas shopping season.
“We are happy to be part of such a worthwhile fundraising effort,” Mayor Bennett said.
During December, the public was invited to put money in downtown Peterborough parking meters to support Kawartha Food Share. The City of Peterborough erected signs near the pay machines to promote the program.
While the City of Peterborough has previously provided free parking in downtown Peterborough during the Christmas season, the annual free parking program with its fundraising component began in 2003.
With today’s donation, the free parking program has raised $88,056.61 for various local charities.
“We are constantly amazed at the generosity of the people of Peterborough,” said Ashlee Aitken, Office and Media Administrator for Kawartha Food Share. “This cheque allows us to purchase almost $70,000 worth of food for families in our community.””
Kawartha Food Share is an important charity in the Peterborough area. It assists more than 7,600 men, women and children every month through its 36 member agencies, which includes four meal programs, four food banks in the City of Peterborough, six housing projects, seven food banks in the County of Peterborough, and more than 20 food cupboards across the City and County of Peterborough.
Last year, the organization’s warehouse distributed over $10 million worth of food and emergency care needs.
For more information about Kawartha Food Share, visit www.kawarthafoodshare.com.
