CORNWALL – After serving hundreds of local families, the Social Development Council of Cornwall and Area is planning a fourth round of emergency food hampers.
This fourth round of approximately 1,500 hampers is being paid for with money from the Social Services Relief Fund – the same fund used for the hampers in November.
Previous hamper distributions last year were funded by the federal government’s New Horizons for Seniors Program (in May) and the Emergency Community Support Fund (in June).
There were roughly 4,600 hampers given out to families in 2020.
Spokesperson Carilyne Hebert tells Cornwall Newswatch each emergency food distribution costs between $80,000 and $105,000, depending on what’s in the hamper, grocery prices and food availability in large quantities.
If you need emergency food, the Regional Emergency Response Council is taking requests right now at 613-936-0306 extension 253 until Feb. 26 at 4 p.m.
There’s also a need for volunteers the week of March 8 to put the hampers together at the Cornwall Civic Complex. Call the same number to volunteer.
“The last round of hampers saw approximately 160 volunteers spread over a period of four days in smaller shifts to ensure we are not in large numbers during the packing and distribution,” Hebert said.
The Regional Emergency Response Council (RERC) is a collaboration of the United Way of SD&G and the Social Development Council of Cornwall and Area.