The Salvation Army Windsor Centre of Hope is calling on the community to help restock its food bank as demand for food assistance continues to grow. The annual food drive will be held Friday, Oct. 9, in recognition of World Homeless Day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at eight grocery stores across Windsor-Essex. Residents are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items, including canned goods, pasta, rice, instant noodles, cereal, peanut butter and oatmeal. The organization says donations will help sustain the food bank through the winter months. Executive director Jason Linton said the food bank has recorded an average of 1,300 individual visits each month so far this year, reflecting continued demand for support. Linton said rising living costs are forcing many people to choose between paying rent and buying groceries, and the food bank aims to help ease some of that burden. Volunteers will provide shoppers with a list of needed items as they enter participating stores, with donation collection stations set up at store exits. Donations can be dropped off at the Real Canadian Superstore locations on Dougall Avenue and Walker Road, Zehrs locations on Manning Road, Malden Road and Parkway, Metro stores on Central Avenue and Howard Avenue, and Tony and Kathy’s No Frills on Tecumseh Road. The Salvation Army said members of the LaSalle Police Service, Windsor Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police and the Rotary Club of Walkerville will support the initiative.
