THUNDER BAY - The Regional Food Distribution Association is hoping to fill fire trucks with food this weekend.
As part of a new initiative, the charity is teaming up with Thunder Bay Fire Rescue to help stock shelves with non-perishable food items.
Community services manager Brendan Carlin said the goal of the campaign is to help stock shelves with food items during the summer months when donations tend to decrease.
“During the summer, just in general, food banks are not always on the top of people’s mind. That’s fair enough, but I think this is a great way to boost our food going into the summer, so we can make it to the fall when people are really thinking about donating.
Fire trucks will park outside of the Metro on River Street on Saturday, and outside of the Superstore on Sunday. Shoppers will be encouraged to help fill the fire truck as a part of their weekend grocery trip.
“Firefighters will be asking (customers) to donate as they come in," Carlin said. "They’ll hand leaflets of our most wanted items, and asking people to fill the fire trucks on the way out."
Carlin added the RFDA are generally looking for non-perishable foods such as canned vegetables, fruits, meats, peanut butter, kinds of pasta and pasta sauces.
An RFDA employee who formerly worked as a firefighter sparked the idea.
“It’s a good fit. Firefighters and emergency services are dedicated to keeping the public safe and this is a big part of that,” Carlin said.
Carlin said the donations will stay in the city and will help feed the roughly 9,000 recipients that receive donations from the RFDA.
“We respond to calls to some of the most vulnerable people in Thunder Bay,” said Kevin Anderson, TBFR public relations worker.
“We understand the need. Being there first-hand, we understand. So the (food drive) is an easy way to give back.”
