by Sylene Argent
In keeping with the Rotary Club motto, “service above self,” members of the Essex Rotary Club helped the Essex Area Food Bank to provide around 95 Christmas Baskets to area individuals and families in need last week.
Every year, the Essex Rotary Club supports the Essex Area Food Bank’s annual Christmas Basket program, which provides a holiday meal for clients, by purchasing enough food items for the program. In a Christmas Basket, Food Bank clients can choose from a having a turkey or a ham, and also receive potatoes, apple pie, stuffing, veggies, and boxes of oranges to create a wonderful Christmas meal.
Rotarians provide $6,000 in support towards the program, including a $1000 grant from each Enbridge and Dillon Consulting, to purchase the food items. Rotarians purchased the items last Monday, before rolling up their sleeves to help sort out the items last Wednesday as Food Bank clients came to pick up their Christmas Baskets.
Some of the Rotarians stuck around last week to help the Essex Area Food Bank volunteers start moving items from its current location at the Sun Parlour Junior Public School to its new location at Essex United Church.
The Essex Area Food Bank moved into the Sun Parlour Junior Public School around five-years ago, when construction commenced on Essex District High School. The Essex Area Food Bank has spent the past 25-years operating out of Essex District High School or the Sun Parlour Junior Public School, with allowance from the Greater Essex County District School Board.
The latest lease contract, however, is set to expire at the end December.
While Food Bank clients picked up their Christmas Baskets last week, those with little ones were able to pick out donated toy items. Food Bank volunteers said the toy collection improves every year, noting the items were sure to help put a smile on the faces of area youth on Christmas morning.