Category: COUC News

Tuesday meal programming continues to grow in numbers as more people join us for a meal and to get some groceries.  Demand varies each week and often gets heavier near each month end.  We need help keeping our shelves stocked in these times of greater need! Please consider donating non perishable items (most needed listed at the bottom of this page) or a cash donation indicated for the food cupboard. *We can issue tax receipts when required.

Our numbers are generally up, providing meals for an average of 70 people and groceries for close to 80. We note an increase in requests from people who have come to Canada seeking refuge, from Ukraine, parts of the former Soviet Union and Africa – who’s federal support allotments are not enough to provide all their needs. Some of our friends from pre-Covid years have returned after a long absence as income supports have dropped off, while the cost of food and housing has increased dramatically.

As summer weather and sunshine arrive, we are getting requests for sunscreen and bottled water so please keep that in mind if you are out shopping for us.  Ad if you have any new or lightly used summer hats or caps you don’t know what to do with, we could probably use them.

We appreciate the support from so many of you who contribute money or groceries for the food pantry or goodies for our meals; and thank you for answering our recent appeal for personal hygiene items like toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, deodorant, etc.   A need always exists for these items.  We are also always in need of reusable bags for packing groceries and for small clean plastic bags like bread bags so we can divide bread and other produce we receive.

It is on a Tuesday morning when you realize just how blessed you are to have everything you need to live a comfortable life: a safe home, a comfortable bed, healthy and delicious food, clean clothing, and family and friends surrounding you.   

Our guests on a Tuesday morning may have some of those things but not all of them, or they may have none of what we take for granted.  Their lives are so very different than ours and it is hard to imagine what they experience.  One young man was thanking me a couple of weeks ago for his lunch and commented that it was the first meal he had eaten in almost a week.  

As you count your many blessings and think of those in our community who are less fortunate, know that all donations to our meal program are greatly appreciated. As grocery prices continue to rise, what we really need are donations of the non-perishable foods noted below. 

If you can help in any way, either with food donation or monetary contributions to our shopping team, your generosity would be greatly appreciated.

Meat/Protein: canned tuna, chicken, ham, pork & beans, chili, Chef Boyardee; and peanut butter

Other Items: canned soup, vegetables, fruit; boxes of cereal; individual-serving oatmeal packets; pasta and pasta sauces; Mac & Cheese; Mr. Noodle; Premium Saltine Crackers; individual fruit cups; granola bars; coffee and brown and white sugar (we split the larger containers into smaller lots for distribution); and toilet paper

Pop and juice boxes for lunches would also be appreciated, and sandwiches and cookies are always welcome.

Thank you for your generosity.