Food Freedom Day 2017.  February 08, 2017.  (Photo by Paul Pedro)Food Freedom Day 2017. February 08, 2017. (Photo by Paul Pedro)
Chatham

Local Families Benefit From Food Freedom Day

Chatham-Kent farmers have donated $4,000 worth of meat, fruit and vegetables, just in time for Food Freedom Day.

The donation of 2400 lbs of food was made to the Salvation Army and Outreach For Hunger in Chatham on Tuesday.

The delivery of the food came one day before Food Freedom Day, which is the day when the average Canadian has earned enough income to pay for his/her grocery bill for the entire year.

Cindy May Parry with Outreach For Hunger says local families are struggling to make ends meet and the donations are needed and appreciated.

"Everybody will be able to get fresh fruits and vegetables and this is what we need," says Parry.

She says Outreach For Hunger helps around 45 people a day.

Parry says the food will go a long way to helping local families, adding "Christmas bills are coming in and the hydro has gone up a little bit."

"The food budget always seems to suffer and when we get fresh stuff like this, people can supplement their food budget with the fresh stuff," says Salvation Army Captain Stephanie Watkinson, adding the need at the four food banks is great.

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