Kawartha Lakes Food Source (KLFS) is hoping people will open their cupboards and their hearts by setting aside one food or other item every day in November for people in need.
As the holiday season approaches, KLFS is gearing up to launch its annual “reverse advent calendar” food drive. This year’s drive will run for the month of November.
KLFS said the idea behind the reverse advent calendar is simple: rather than getting something each day, it’s calling on the community to give something every day in November by setting aside a food or household item to donate and, at the end of the month, to deliver the collected items to the not-for-profit distribution centre in Kawartha Lakes.
Erika Henry, KLFS donor stewardship coordinator, told kawarthaNOW the goal of this year’s initiative is to collect 3,000 pounds of food.
“The best thing that can happen, in addition to KLFS gaining inventory to make it through the later winter months when the need is the greatest but donations tend to drop off, is raising awareness about the record-breaking number of food bank visits we are experiencing,” she said.
In 2023, KLFS recorded 13,670 visits to its member food banks and is averaging 1,127 monthly visits this year.
“The more help we receive, the lighter the load becomes for everyone, which is crucial in this moment when inflated food and living costs are making things more challenging for all,” Henry added. “Every little bit counts.”
Residents can complete the reverse advent calendar by collecting as many items as they can from KLFS’s list. On a weekday after November 30, residents can drop off their completed calendar to the KLFS distribution centre located at 164 Needham St. in Lindsay.
Items on the list include canned ham, stuffing, pasta noodles, pasta sauces, canned fruit, pancake mix, canned potatoes, coffee, and hot chocolate.
The full list of items assigned to each day between November 1 and 30 can be found on the KLFS website at www.kawarthalakesfoodsource.com.
KLFS also invites community members to stay tuned to its social media channels for weekly posts and updates.
“This event is particularly exciting when you team up with a group to help you collect each item,” a media release noted. “The reverse advent calendar is a great way for school classrooms, sports teams, or offices to work together with their cohorts to give back to the community and make a difference this winter.”
KLFS said now that summer employment opportunities are finished for the year, it is anticipating another increase in food bank use throughout the winter months, due to a loss in income for seasonal workers.
“The reverse advent calendar is one of the opportunities KLFS has created to help the community engage in our fight against hunger,” the organization said. “Many of the donations collected through this initiative can be distributed in time for Christmas, providing food and hope to our friends and neighbours who are struggling.”
In a quest to fight food insecurity, KLFS operates from a centralized distribution centre, where it collects food from reclamation sources, buys food in bulk, sorts and stores food, promotes awareness of hunger and its impact, and co-ordinates fundraising.
It provides food and personal care items to its member organizations on a monthly, fair share basis. The organization supports eight food banks, six social service agencies, and 21 student breakfast programs.
