Wolfe Lawyers Two-Hour Free Holiday Parking Raises Over $12,000 For Kawartha Food Share

Downtown shopping has paid off in a big way as the Wolfe Personal Injury Lawyers Two-Hour Free Holiday Parking raised $12,625.58 for Kawartha Food Share (KFS) at a cheque presentation at the latter’s facility on Wednesday afternoon.

(From left to right) Mayor Jeff Leal; Ashlee Aitken, KFS general manager; Councillor Alex Bierk and Bill Wolfe, Wolfe Personal Injury Lawyers. Kawartha Food Share currently assists more than 9,000 people every month through its 36 member agencies. It supports four meal programs, seven city food banks, six housing projects, seven county food banks and over 20 food cupboards across the City and County of Peterborough. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

From Nov. 25 to Dec. 31, Wolfe Lawyers sponsored Downtown Peterborough's free parking. This includes all downtown municipal parking spaces such as on-street parking, municipal parking lots, the King Street Parking Garage and Simcoe Parking Garage.

Any optional parking fees paid through parking meters or the HotSpot App went towards KFS during that time.

“The Two-Hour Free Holiday parking promotion is a true win-win scenario that collects much-needed donations for the Kawartha Food Share while encouraging people to enjoy the shopping, dining and entertainment of downtown businesses,” said Mayor Jeff Leal.

“We appreciate the support and generosity of shoppers and residents making voluntary donations during the holiday season,” said Bill Wolfe of Wolfe Personal Injury Lawyers. “These funds, through the support of Kawartha Food Share, will help to put food on the tables for people.”

“We are so thankful for the continued support of the City of Peterborough and the local shoppers for donating to Kawartha Food Share each and every December,” said Ashlee Aitken, KFS general manager. “This year, more than ever before, we needed this donation to help us restock our shelves.”

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Central Smith Creamery's Third 'Fill the Truck' Campaign Collected 8,000 Pounds of Food and $8,000 For Kawartha Food Share

The third year of Central Smith Creamery’s ‘Fill the Truck’ campaign brought roughly 8,000 pounds of food and $8,000 cash donations for Kawartha Food Share (KFS) on Friday.

Central Smith Creamery Staff with Ashlee Aitken (far right). Two delivery trucks were need to collect and haul all the donations to KFS. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The campaign had approximately 40 local businesses and organizations collect non-perishable goods and money from their respective communities since it was announced in late November. Goods and cash were collected from Nov. 27 to Dec. 14.

Central Smith had two delivery trucks collect the donated items on Friday and deliver them to Kawartha Food Share on the same day.

The list of drop-off locations for the ‘Fill the Truck’ campaign. Photo courtesy of Central Smith Creamery.

While the annual campaign is young, being in its third year, the participating businesses inquired about the campaign being run again before Central Smith had announced it according to Ian Scates, Central Smith president.

“They're already letting us know that they were keen and excited about contributing this year,” he said.

The excitement was a mutual feeling from Central Smith and its employees as well.

“It's the most fun day,” said Shannon Meagher, Central Smith inventory control coordinator. “We all really look forward to it. Everyone wants to participate.”

KFS typically sees an uptick in demand during the Christmas season and the extra donations help stretch that into the early months of the year says Ashlee Aitken, KFS general manager.

“Post-pandemic, we're feeding anywhere from 10,000 to 12,000 people a month, sometimes in the winter, that goes up to about 15,000,” she said. “We'll do what we can and hope to alleviate some pressures for some families.”

Aitken concluded that KFS is always looking for volunteers especially during the holiday season.

“We need about 100 volunteers doing various jobs,” she explained. “We're always looking for help so if anyone's ever interested, just give our warehouse a call and we'll find a position that fits you well.”

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Tim Hortons Holiday Smile Cookie Campaign Raises Over $33,000 For Kawartha Food Share

The Tim Hortons Holiday Smile Cookie Campaign raised $33,645.48 for Kawartha Food Share (KFS) in a cheque presentation at the latter’s facility on Tuesday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The campaign ran from Nov. 13 to 19, when KFS was announced as the fundraiser recipient in early November.

“In the past, we have donated at Christmas to Kawartha Food Share,” said Erika Rowe-Gallagher, Tim Hortons owner and operator. “It becomes a little more special and a little more meaningful at Christmas when we think of family.”

The proceeds were split 50/50 between the Tim Hortons Foundation Camps for youth aged 12-16 with disadvantaged circumstances. The other half was for KFS to help them fill their food bank.

“Hopefully this will stretch us a couple months into the new year. We're busy right now filling up our Christmas orders and getting things out before the year's end,” said Ashlee Aitken, KFS general manager. “Come January, the need is just as high so this will help us ensure that we can purchase food items for that time of year as well.”

The money came in time to help meet KFS's increasing demand over the holiday season.

“In the last couple of years, we have our numbers have significantly risen,” said Aitken. “Pre-pandemic, we were feeding anywhere from 7,500 to 9,000 people a month. Now we're feeding close to 12,000 people a month at food banks. Sometimes that number increased as high as 15,000.”

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23rd Annual Loonies on the Street Fundraiser Hits Downtown Peterborough For Kawartha Food Share on Dec. 15

The 23rd Loonies on the Street Fundraiser in support of Kawartha Food Shareis hitting Downtown Peterborough on the corner of George St, and Simcoe St.on Dec. 15 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Kawartha Food Share Helps feed more than 12,000 people a month – 35 per cent of whom are children – KFS also provides nutritious snacks for 51 area school breakfast programs helping over 17,000 children get a healthy start to their school day. Photo courtesy of Kawartha Food Share.

Their bucket brigade is collecting loose change on George Street while members of the Peterborough Lions Club are collecting on the Hunter Street Bridge. Online donations are also being accepted.

Kawartha Food Share is a central collection and distribution warehouse that partners with 37-member agency food banks, food cupboards and other food action programs in the City and County of Peterborough.

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Kawartha Food Share Named Recipient of Tim Hortons Holiday Smile Cookie Campaign

Tim Hortons famed Holiday Smile Cookies have given Kawartha Food Share (KFS) a big reason to be happy as the latter is the recipient of this year’s campaign running from Nov. 13 to 19, announced on Monday.

The Smile Cookie campaign began in 1996 as a way to help raise funds for the Hamilton Children’s Hospital in Ontario, and has grown to become a major fundraising event at Tim Hortons Restaurants. Photo courtesy of KFS.

The announcement was made by KFS on social media posted Monday morning.

Purchasing a Holiday Smile Cookie during the designated week will have half the proceeds benefit KFS while the other half goes to Tim Horton’s Foundation Camps.

Cookies purchased at Tim Hortons in Peterborough, Lakefield, Curve Lake, Havelock and Bridgenorth will contribute to KFS.

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'Porch Pirates For Good' Food Drive Plundering Peterborough For Kawartha Food Share

Kawartha Food Share (KFS) is plundering Peterborough again as they are doing their “Porch Pirates For Good” food drive to restock their empty shelves this Saturday.

Since the inception of the pandemic, our porch food drives have brought in over 120,000 pounds of food and over $12,000 in monetary donations. Each month, KFS serves more than 4,500 children under the age of 18. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Households are asked to leave a bag of non-perishable food items on their front porch for the Porch Pirates to collect starting at 9 a.m.

The number of clients using food banks has reached an all-time high throughout the nation, according to KFS. They continue to state that the rising cost of food and supply chain shortages have affected their clients, donors and purchasing power.

The following is a list of items requested for donation from KFS:

• Peanut Butter

• Canned tuna

• Canned fruit

• Individually wrapped school snacks – very helpful

• Pasta and pasta sauce

• Alpha-getti, Kraft Dinner and Chef Boyardee

• Breakfast cereal

• Gluten-free items – like pasta, cookies, oats etc.

• Canned vegetables

• Canned soup/stew

• Feminine hygiene products

• Diapers

• Toiletries

• Monetary Donations (can be made online or during item collection)

For every $1 donated, $3 worth of food can be purchased, according to KFS. Volunteers can collect cheques or cash during their pickups on October 28th.

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Peterborough Kia to Host Inaugural Car Show to Support Kawartha Food Share and YMCA

Get into Peterborough Kia’s first annual classic car show to be hosted at their dealership this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Event flyer of Peterborough Kia’s first car show. Photo courtesy of Peterborough Kia.

The dealership is located at 238 Lansdowne St. E.

The show features classic cars from the 60s and 70s and is providing live music and a 50/50 draw.

Proceeds of the event are going to Kawartha Food Share and Peterborough YMCA.

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New PTBO Strong Restaurant Booklet Launched to Support Mental Health

Peterborough diners can save on local eateries while supporting mental health initiatives as PTBO Strong has launched their fundraising restaurant book, ‘Reversing the Trend.’

The deals cannot be combined with any other offer. Photo courtesy of PTBO Strong.

The booklet has various buy-one-get-one-free deals for over 50 different throughout Peterborough. Some participating restaurants include Taso’s Restaurant & Pizzeria, Curry Mantra, P.J.’s Diner, The Pin, Brothers Pizza and more.

They can be purchased online for $30 and supports mental health initiatives from organizations such as A Right to Heal (that also carries the booklets for purchase), Elizabeth Fry - Ellen House, Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) and Kawartha Food Share (KFS).

“We are happy about that as it helps a little with our fundraising,” said Sheila Nabigon-Howlett of PATH. “I have used the booklet several times and found it great on all occasions. It’s a great deal for the diner also for mental health advocacy in Peterborough and of course for the restaurant owners as well.”

“We are so thankful to be included as the recipients of the Peterborough Strong Restaurant Book,” said Ashlee Aitken, KFS general manager. “It has been an incredibly tough couple of years for our clients and member agencies with the rising cost of food and living. These proceeds will allow us to purchase much-needed food items to keep our food bank shelves well stocked for our community members in need.”

More restaurants will be added to the booklet in the near future according to Tim Burke, PTBO Strong co-founder. They expire in July of next year.

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Porch Pirates For Good 'Plundering' For Donations For Kawartha Food Share On May 27

‘Porch Pirates for Good’ is returning to scour Peterborough to restock the dwindling shelves at Kawartha Food Share (KFS) for May 27.

six Porch Pirate food drives have collected 177,340 pounds of food. Photo courtesy of KFS.

Residents can leave a bag of non-perishable food items on their front porch. Starting at 9 a.m., volunteers dressing in pirate attire will drive around the city, collect the items and deliver them to the KFS warehouse.

Money can also be donated on KFS’s website. Every dollar donated allows Kawartha Food Share to leverage more than four dollars of food purchasing power.

The food drive aids families who are unable to afford groceries due to employment-related reasons and the high cost of housing, health and food.

KFS is looking to receive the following donated items:

• Canned tuna

• Pasta and pasta sauce

• Alphaghetti, Kraft Dinner and Chef Boyardee

• Breakfast cereal

• Peanut Butter

• Any non-perishable fruit and vegetable items

• Rice

• Canned soup/stew

• Feminine hygiene products

• Baby formula

• Diapers

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Local Podcaster Partners With Imprinted Apparel to Raise $1,200 For Kawartha Food Share

Local community builder and podcaster Ken John Jones teamed up with Imprinted Apparel to raise $1,200 for Kawartha Food Share (KFS) in a cheque presentation on Thursday morning.

(form left to right) Ashlee Aitken, KFS general manager; Ken John Jones, podcaster and Clinton Smith, IMprinted Apparel Co-owner outside Imprinted Apparel with the cheque. Jones was awarded and recognized as a community builder by MP Michelle Ferreri in March of last year. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The money was raised from merchandise proceeds of Jones’s podcast, “Jonsey’s Corner Podcast” where Imprinted Apparel created the apparel and designed the logo. The printing business matched the funds raised totalling $1,200 for Kawartha Food Share.

“I feel very passionate for what Kawartha Food Share does for our community,” said Jones. “I thought this would be a great opportunity to give back to the community that I call my home.”

Jones started raising the money for a month beginning in early February.

His podcast just reached its one-year anniversary and has featured over 70 guests. They include local athletes, notable community members, artists and other builders.

Jones is a recognized community builder in Peterborough, recognized in March of last year with a certificate. He has volunteered for organizations such as Alternatives Community Program Services and Challenger Baseball.

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