The Callander Legion and the Legion Ladies Auxiliary donated some serious cheddar to two local food banks. Just over $3,000 was donated to the Callander and District Food Bank on Tuesday morning, and the day of giving continued, as Legion President Ron Devost headed to the Bonfield Food Bank with a cheque for $700.
Legion Branch 445, at 345 Lansdowne Street in Callander, serves Callander, East Ferris, and Bonfield. Callander’s food bank, also located on Lansdowne, also serves East Ferris, so the donations stay local.
“Right now, they are full of food,” Devost said of the food banks, “because people are dropping off items and donating, but come January and February, that all stops.”
That’s why the Legion and the Legion Ladies Auxiliary decided to donate cash to the organizations. They can purchase items they need when the Christmas rush on giving slows down.
See: Rising costs pushing young families to use Callander’s food bank
To allow for such a bountiful donation, the Legion held a bingo on December 3. The event was popular. About 65 people came out, Devost recalled. Winners received frozen turkeys, and there were 20 winners. The grand prize – claimed by a full card – was a 20-pound turkey with potatoes and trimmings to boot.
There are two charity bingos for the food bank each year, Devost said. The one held around Easter has hams for prizes. Mark your calendar.
As for the Ladies Auxiliary, members held a craft sale last month and they put the vendor’s table fees toward the food bank. They also collected donations at the door.
“All of the money stays local,” Devost emphasized, “and there’s definitely a growing need this year.”
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
