A Niagara College faculty member is leading an important tradition in the Welland community to help those in need. Monique Finley, Professor in the School of Business and Management, is the coordinator of the Welland Food Drive, happening on November 5.
The annual food drive, which is in its 31st year, helps stock the shelves of three local food banks – The Hope Centre, Open Arms Mission, and The Salvation Army – who rely on donations to support their efforts in feeding the community.
Finley says that she is looking forward to this year’s hybrid format – a return of the traditional door-to-door porch pick-up across the city and an option to make a financial contribution online. In 2020 and 2021, the food drive was forced to halt its in-person operation due to the pandemic, collecting donations solely online for the first time.
“It really speaks to the whole concept of community,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for everyone in the Welland community to participate. Whether it’s one can or boxes of food, or in this case financial donations, it’s an opportunity for community to come together through volunteerism and donation.”
While the food drive is run by a small volunteer organizing committee, it attracts the support of more than 500 volunteers, some of whom drive around the city to collect food donations from residents who leave items on their front porch for pick up.
“We have 85 teams of people who have different routes,” said Finley. “They comb the routes starting at 10 a.m. and bring donations to Club Richelieu for unloading and for distribution to the three different charities that are the key recipients of this drive.”
Finley began supporting the food drive over 15 years ago at the request of her three children, who were looking for volunteer opportunities in high school. As a family, they signed up for a collection route, drove around for the day and dropped off donations to Club Richelieu, where donated goods are sorted.
“What I saw there was a massive outpouring of generosity, and it was very moving,” Finley recalled when arriving at the Club. That first year, she found the organizer at the time and committed to volunteering the following year. Fast forward five years and she became the lead organizer of the food drive, a role she has held for 10 years.
How to donate on Nov. 5
Door-to-door pick up
Members of the Niagara College community who live in Welland, and who are able to donate, are encouraged to support the Welland Food Drive by placing their non-perishables (in a box or bag) in a visible location on their porch by 10 a.m. Volunteers will be picking up food from 10 a.m. onwards.
Most needed items include cereals, peanut butter, canned fruit, tuna, canned meat and vegetables, canned stews and pasta, pasta sauce, rice, Kraft Dinner and snacks. Personal hygiene items including toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, shampoo, as well as diapers and baby wipes are also greatly appreciated.
Online donations
Online donations supporting the Welland Food Drive can be made at wellandfooddrive.com. Visit the website or the Welland Food Drive Facebook page for more information.
