Windsor charities see rising need ahead of Thanksgiving weekend

Food banks are calling for help as families in need continue to grow. CTV Windsor’s Chris Campbell has the details.

As Thanksgiving weekend approaches, Windsor charities say they’re seeing more people than ever turning to them for help putting food on the table.

At Street Help, staff and volunteers are serving about 500 meals a day in a brand-new dining area, a space that’s already making a difference for people who rely on the Wyandotte Street East homeless centre.

“We feed a lot of people within the neighbourhood, families, children, and it breaks your heart to see,” said administrator Christine Wilson-Furlonger.

“But at the same time, I’m so grateful that we’re able to provide for those families.”

Wilson-Furlonger said the demand for food and support is unlike anything she’s seen before, and the organization welcomes donations of food, money, and volunteer time.

“It’s a huge demand,” she said.

“We still need turkeys and hams to come in, and the fixings, but importantly right now we need money. This Canada Post strike has really crippled us financially. We really need every penny we can pull in right now.”

A few blocks away, the Wyandotte Town Centre Business Improvement Association handed out dozens of free turkeys to families in need in front of the Al Sabeel Restaurant on Thursday afternoon.

“We have to give back to our community,” said BIA chair Larry Horwitz.

“There’s a lot of people right now that are hurting, a lot of families that need it. To be honest, it makes us feel good to give back.”

Meanwhile, Your Neighbourhood Credit Union will be back in front of the Real Canadian Superstore on Walker Road on Friday between 11 a.m. and 3p.m., hosting its annual Thanksgiving food drive for the Downtown Mission.

“Thanksgiving is about gratitude and sharing what we have with others,” said Shaylan Spurway, the credit union’s manager of communications and community impact.

“Every can, every box of pasta, every small act of generosity really adds up.”

According to Feed Ontario’s 2024 Hunger Report, more than 800,000 people turned to food banks last year – the highest number on record. That’s one in 16 Ontarians depending on community charities to eat.

“For Windsor, it’s just not realistic anymore,” said Wilson-Furlonger.

“People can’t afford it.”

That reality moved Windsor resident Frank Lapain to drop off a $1,400 donation to Street Help on Thursday, an unannounced gesture he and his coworkers had quietly organized.

“I’ve never been in this position,” Lapain told CTV News.

“I’m glad to help out, and some of the guys I work with wanted to help too. It’s an ongoing problem, so we’ll do the best we can.”