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© IB OPINION FOOD AND MONETARY DONATIONS OF = ANY SIZE HAVE AN 3 IMPACT, WRITES 2 KIM WILHELM Every summer, we ask our community to donate food and funds to Full Bel- lies. Happy Hearts., ouran- nual campaign that helps provide healthy and nutri- tious food to children expe- riencing hunger. This year, our goal is to raise 1.5 mil- lion meals by Aug. 31 for kids living in food insecure households. If you want to help ensure no child goes hungry, you can visit the- foodbank.ca/fullbellies to donate. icle | Thursday, August 10, 2023 | Have you ever won- dered what happens to your donation when you support a campaign like KIM WILHELM Column Full Bellies. | Happy Hearts.? Well, it depends on whether you donate non-perishable food or funds. As you’ve probably no- ticed, bins, boxes, and bag: from community food ‘ives and local grocery stores are filled with all types of non-perishable food items from noodles to canned goods to granola bars. Once these non-perish- able food donations arrive at The Food Bank of Water- loo Region, they are mo" to our engagement room to be sorted. In this space, staff and volunteers in- spect donated non-perish- able food items for quality, check their best before and expiry dates, and sort them into categories such as pasta, cans, and individu- Last year, over 800, 000 pounds of non-perishable food was sorted in our en- gagement room. Once the food is sorted, it’s moved to house, where it Ss 3 shelved and put into our inventory system. From there, it’s loaded onto our trucks and delivered to over 120 com- munity rog) and agency partners in Water- looregion. These organiza: mmu- nw 'y Food ‘Assistance Net- work and together, they provide direct food sup- port to more than 40,500 people in Hinancial lonations — whether online, over the phone, in person, or through the mail — are used to fill inventory gaps, bin food to meet diverse al and dietary needs, ona ens delivery trucks on the road. For Full Bel- lies. Happy Hearts., donat- ed funds will help us buy kid-friendly foods that we don’t have enough of like apple sauce, fruit cups, granola bars, juice boxes, TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT WATERLOOCHRONICLE.CA WHAT YOUR FOOD AND FINANCIALS DONATIONS SUPPORT Metro Creative photo If your budget allows for it, please consider donating food or funds to our Full Bellies. Happy Hearts. campaign, writes Kim Wilhelm. and pudding cups. For od and monetary do- your budget al- lows for it, please consider donating food or funds to our Full Bellies. - Happy Hearts. campaign. Kim Wilhelm is the interim CEO of The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division ofthe Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 70 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants a wri Council Suite 20), to Nanae St, ronto, Phone: A16- 3A! 981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca nne | Aocna “Saat | Canada editorial@waterloochronicle.ca facebook.com/waterloochronicle @uichronicle WHO WE ARE Publisher and r Vice President, Editorial Lee Ann Waterman Metroland Editor-in-Chief Paul Berton Regional General Manager Nelson Parreira COPING WITH ONGOING CHALLENGES =: THE STRUGGLE IS REAL, FOR ALL OF US, WRITES HELEN FISHBURN Our community contin- ues to feel unsettled. We see it in so many ways — ongoing mental health aa addictions inthe heed of the pan , the of the ne high cost of living, fears about climate change, increasing home- lessness, etc. It is all weigh- ing heavily on our hearts and minds. The pandemic caused burnout and extreme ex. time. The line between i turns to its new normal, it’s HELEN FISHBURN Column important to recognize and acinowedge thesefeelings and remember they will not go away simply be- cause we are able to return to our day-to-day routines. We carry the layers of these feelings with us. Weneed to fing ne new footings. ing living costs are alse creating high-stress situations within our com- ing affor le possible Pe a very wide section of our community. Minimum wage simply isn’t enough to live in most southern Ontario commu- nities anymore. in be difficult come to “terms with these especially cally, food bank usage has spiked in the past few years as people are forced to make decisions between having somewhere to live and putting food on the ta- ble. We're also seeing the startling and disturbing ef- fects of climate change nearly every day. Canada has already experienced its st wildfire season in history. Some days, we’re struggling breathe through the thick smoke in Communities are deal- ing with e: e tempera- tures, foals. and fires. We are called to action on cli- ite change — we all have to look for ways to reduce our carbon footprint. This is certainly contributing to the collective fear and anx- ned we are all experienc- “30 far, this op-ed has been pretty depressing. ‘As hard as it is to name all challenges we are owing right now, it 's really im- portant to do ©. calling it out helps us see it,and then we can deal with it. It also helps to know that this isa collective experience. Yet, each of us manage: collective experience dif- ferently. In our family, my father has an expression (that he heard in a movie) that has always stayed with me: “You know the what, you now, see people express anger and frustration, turn to al- cohol anc use, make poor decisions, and with- draw from those around them ... we see the “what,” but we don’t know what is happening in that person’s ay to understand the “Ge ‘iven the collective struggle we are all feeling, let’s take the time to check on each other, to have con- versations, to hold space, to can listen and understand the why. Let’s be extra pa- tient, tolerant, kind, and generous. And, of course, let’s offer to connect people to the care and support they neo Because the struggle | is real for allof us. ways, our services are available to people in the community in need. Re- member, no one is alone. We are here to help whoev- er is in aed You can ac- 4-hor support feroueh our Here 24/7 Cri- sis Support at 1-844-437- 3247. Helen Fishburn is the CEO of the Canadian Men- tal Health Association Waterloo Wellington. sentatives Jan Bodanka, Matt Miller, Lisa ae imphreys, Cassandra Del Managin g Editor Robyn Wilkinson ‘Online Editor Loraine Centeno Ned Bekavac Reporter ap Jackson Director vices Paul Gos tin iterloo Chronic! 219 Labrador Dr. suite 203, Waterloo, On., N2K 4M8 Phone: 519-886-2830 Web: www.waterloochronicle.ca rs to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the fight to ei condense or reject letter Published letters will appear in print and/or online at waterloochronicle.ca For all delivery inquiries, e-mail istomerservice@metroland.com or call 519-894-3000. Accrédité Accredited.