Village of Hope food drive brings record results

Village of Hope set its largest food drive goal in 37 years and the community has answered the call raising 30,000 pounds of food and donating $20,000 which was matched for a $40,000 total.

“This was record breaking,” executive director Cheryl Keddy Scott said Saturday, joining 168 volunteers who collected, delivered and sorted the donations.

“Last week Village of Hope declared an emergency crisis with shelves 80 per cent empty and registrations up 120 per cent,” Keddy Scott said. The food drive was organized in partnership with Calvary Gospel Church in Beamsville.

Village of Hope is now providing services for an unprecedented 1700 individuals every month.

“With the post pandemic cost of liv-

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By Joanne McDonald

ing, people can’t make ends meet,” Keddy Scott said, citing increases in depression, anxiety and addictions.

Village of Hope is located at 2540 South Service Road, Jordan Station. The food bank is open Monday to Fri- day, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The Thrift Store is open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Thursdays, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. The calendar of programs and upcoming events is on the website www.villageofhopeniagara.org or call 905-562-3113.

The 24-hour emergency line is 905964-3809.