MAY 2013 

Pickering Cares Food Drive is happening on May 11^th, 2013.

The 4th Annual Food Drive will take place Saturday, May 11, 2013. Check the list of foods needed this year on our Most Needed page.  Also look for your donation bag in your Pickering News Advertiser from May 2nd   Remember to place your donations out early.  Please make sure the bag is left in a visible spot on your front step for our volunteer to pick it up.

If you would like to volunteer, simply drop us a line at  pickeringcaresvolunteers@gmail.com.  Help is required to: collect food donations from homes (maps will be provided and no contact is required with the home owner), sort donations, load and unload delivery vehicles, etc.  This is a good opportunity for your family to volunteer in the community.   High school students are welcome and volunteer hours letters will be provided.

Thank you for your support!

New Community Partners

St. Paul’s on-the-Hill Community Food Bank welcomes Sun Life Financial and The Works Burger Bistro as our newest community partners.  Both companies are supporting the food bank with food drives and contributing to other events.

Keep This Date Open!!!

The 4^th Annual St. Paul’s on-the-Hill Food Bank Golf Tournament is on Thursday, July 18, 2013 at Glen Cedar Golf Course.  Please plan on joining us for another great day of golf and bring along some friends.

Please contact me to purchase a SPECIAL sponsorship package, donate a prize, or just register for a day of golf.  You can email: foodbank@stpaulsonthehill.com or margjocz@sympatico.ca or contact Kevin Cahill at kksjs@rogers.com

Lets make this a successful fundraising event for our food bank.

JANUARY 2013 

A big “thank you” to the community for its strong support throughout the year but particularly during the Christmas season.  Thanks to the numerous food drives that took place in December we have enough food to last us for several months.  

2012 saw an 18% increase in food bank use over the previous year.  Since 2002 we have experienced a growth of 47%.  The following chart compares the numbers of people we assisted in each year.  Unfortunately, the need for the food bank is not diminishing so your continued support is greatly appreciated.

The food bank currently has over 35 dedicated volunteers who donate many hours of service to the people of Pickering-Ajax.  In December they contributed over 600 volunteer hours.  Thank you. 

DECEMBER 2012

December is our busiest month of the year.  Donations are received from community schools, sports teams, local businesses and individuals.  Just to give you an idea of who helps the food bank here are some of food drives running December:

Wright's Lights

The Wright family lights up their front yard for Christmas while collecting food and financial donations for the Food Bank. In 2011 they raised roughly $7,000 and 3500 pounds of food. Congratulations to the Wright family and thank you for your support.

Scanga Family Food Drive

You may have seen the article in the Nov 30^th NewsAdvertiser about this food drive that runs from Dec 2 to 23.  Please look for their donation boxes int the stores located at 3 Harwood Ave S.in  Ajax and in other stores in the Ajax-Pickering area.  A BIG thank you to Nino Scanga, Andy Scanga and all of their helpers.

Kill the Messenger

This local band is hosting a food drive at their show on Sat. December 8^th at the Top Shelf, 527 Westney Rd S, Ajax. Thanks to the band for helping out in their community.

NOVEMBER 2012

Food Bank Stats

The Food Bank extends grateful thanks to the community for its generous and ongoing support.  We appreciate the donations of food and money that allow us to serve the many needy families in our community.

The number of people who require emergency food assistance is growing each month.  The chart below compares the activity in 2011 to 2012 for the period from June to October.  In 2012 the total number of people fed has increased by 20% and the number of new registrants is up by over 50%.

Your children are watching….

In many homes and at school, children copy what they see and hear. We are fortunate to have so many of our local schools who support the food bank by running food drives. At school the children learn about the needs in their community and are happy to share but some really take it to heart.  Here are two such cases:

One little girl was planning her 6^th birthday party and she asked her guests to contribute $2.00 each and bring some canned goods for the food bank.  After the party she came to the food bank and donated over $75.00. 

The second young girl also wanted to do a fundraiser.  Her school was already organizing a food drive for us but she wanted to do more.  She held a bake sale and with help from Mom she made cupcakes and sold them to her friends at a dance studio and at her school.  Another $100.00 was donated to the food bank.

Thank you to the parents who supported the girls and encouraged them to help people in their community.

The Rotary Club of Pickering

On Wed. Nov 14^th the Rotary Club of Pickering held their annual Community Celebration Event and we were presented with a cheque.  Thank you to the members of the Rotary Club of Pickering for your support of our food bank and the many other agencies that serve the communities of Pickering – Ajax.

SEPTEMBER 2012

Summer Report

We have been very busy serving clients this summer since we were only open on Tuesdays through July and August. Serving so many people in a 2 hour/week window has proved to be very stressful.  In future, we have decided to remain open Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 AM to Noon, year round (holidays excepted) since more and more people are relying on food supplements.  The increase in need is evident in the following chart comparing June - August 2011 to 2012.

                               New Registrants                Total Clients Served

            2011                     22                                         521

            2012                     37                                         658  

Pickering Town Centre

The Farmer's Market has been going strong every Tuesday through the summer. Even the heavy rains which only seem to show up on Tuesdays, have not dampened the enthusiasm of participants.  Food donations for area food banks are being received at the market so please remember us on your next visit.  Food collected there is being distributed to to St. Paul's and to Salvation Army's House of Hope.

On September 12, Chefs Vito and Billy from Liaison College plus 4 students created some wonderful food offerings using food from Food Bank hampers.  Visit the PTC website to view their preparations.

Feed The Soul

Enjoy a "steaksgiving" dinner at Casey's Bar & Grill and support your local food bank at the same time.  From Sept. 3 - Oct. 8, Casey's will donate $1 for each meal selected from a special menu to the Ontario Assoc. of Food Banks .  See the link for more details.  

Whitby-Ajax Community Gardens

Each week our clients have been receiving fresh vegetables in their food basket thanks to the gardeners at W.A.C.G.

 A truckload of produce has been arriving at our door each week through the summer delivered by Mary Drummond.  The carrots, tomatoes, beans, beetroot, okra and caliloo are especially appreciated by our clients. A great big thank you goes out to W.A.C.G.  If you are interested in volunteering at the gardens, please follow the link here.  

JULY 2012 

MAY 2012 

March 2012

Are you a golfer?  Our 3rd annual golf tournament is being held on July 19 at Glen Cedars Golf Course.  Please refer to the flyer for additional details.

February 2012

The warehouse volunteer positions have all been filled.  Thanks to everyone who responded to the recent article in the News Advertiser.  Your offers of help and support are greatly appreciated and remind us once again of the generous support for the Food Bank that exists in this community.

January 2012

Message from Director, Rae Coulter 

To all my friends and supporters of the St. Paul's on-the-Hill Community Food Bank:

It is with mixed feelings that I announce that I will be retiring from my role as the Director of the St. Paul's-on-the-Hill Community Food Bank. I feel it is time to hand over the reigns which will give me an opportunity and time to take on some new challenges. My years at the Food Bank have been so very rewarding and, together, we have made a positive impact in our community. I have met and formed lasting friendships with many wonderful people who I will miss but will always hold dear in my heart.  With your help, the St. Paul's on-the-Hill Community Food Bank will continue helping out the needy in our community. Your support over the years has been so appreciated and I would like to send you my personal thank-you for being there when your community needed you. Keep up the great work!

My best wishes to Margaret.Jocz who will be stepping in to replace me. Thanks again for all your help.

Rae Coulter, Director, St. Paul’s Community Food Bank

Friends and supporters of the Food Bank would like Rae to know how much her dedication and leadership has been appreciated over many years.  Rae, we all wish you the very best in the future. 

December 2011

Our Christmas food drives are in full swing.  Thank you to all our donors and volunteers who have supported us so faithfully through this year.  Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year! 

November 2011

St. Paul’s on the Hill Community Food Bank would like to thank everyone in the Ajax and Pickering area for all of the donations received during the Thanksgiving Food Drive.

Here are some contributors that we would like to recognize for their strong support:

Walmart, Pickering

Cineplex 8, Pickering

Vaughn Willard P.S.

Bayview Heights P.S.

October 2011

Our 2nd annual golf tournament held on June 22 at Glen Cedars Golf Course raised over $16,000 for the food bank.  The cheque was presented by Kevin Cahill and Grant Bridges to Director Rae Coulter in October.  A great big "THANK YOU" to the organizers and participants in this event.  You make us smile!