St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank at St. Alfred Church
A Registered Charity - in 2023 meeting the needs of clients more than 35,000 times per year
This is a 47% increase in client needs over 2022 and a 61% increase in new clients!
100% Volunteer Run: sites.google.com/view/vincentalfred
History of Saint Vincent de Paul A Quick Tour of the Food Bank
FROM A CLIENT: "They were caring, patient, listened.. I felt really cared about. thank you and your church for everything that you guys do. Thank you so much for getting caring people to run and operate the food bank. Thank you again… so much. St Alfred. I will never forget the kind, caring, people who work there."
November 23 Trivia Fund Raiser Grantham Optimist Club
Christmas Box Project Dec 13 and 14
Dec 5, 10 am Silverline Trucking Food Drive delivery
Dec 17 St Francis Food Drive
HOURS (closed Dec 24 - Jan 5 for Christmas)
Monday to Friday (excluding holidays) 9 am to 11 am
News, Food Drives, Other Updates
IMMEDIATE NEEDS: Peanut butter, Jam, Cheez Whiz, canned vegetables, tuna, soup
CLIENT SERVICES
Fruit, Vegetables and Baked Goods/Breads are available daily until gone .
Vouchers and food boxes are available to registered clients every 2 months who live within the geographical area served by St. Alfred Church. The food box contains a selection of basic grocery items including proteins, grains and vegetables. We often have limited supplies of personal care items such as baby products, toiletries, dog/cat food, etc. for registered clients. Registered clients must provide the following upon each visit to receive the voucher and food box:
Picture ID for the registered client
Proof of address, in print or on a phone, dated within the last 2 months to include name, address and date . e.g. utility bill, pay stub, prescription receipt, government income statements, etc. (Driver’s licence cannot be used as proof of address but can be used as picture ID)
St. Vincent de Paul numbered card (some clients may not have this and so may need another copy provided to them)
For the first visit of each new year, proof of all persons living with the registered client must be provided.
CHRISTMAS BOX DISTRIBUTION
The Food Bank works with Community Care to provide 200 Christmas boxes to individuals and families throughout the area. This event will be held December 13-14, 2024. Thanks to the many volunteers who made this possible.
SOCKS FOR CHANGE
The Socks For Change organization regularly provides the Food Bank with various winter wear items, including toques, socks, gloves, neck warmers, etc. for distribution to clients throughout the cold weather. Please support this organization.
Dec 10 2023: A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to RENO and NICOLA of Pete's Pizza, for an amazing fundraising event celebrating their 40 years in business. Thanks to all who donated to the food bank!
NEXT FUNDRAISING EVENT is November 23, 2024 at the Grantham Optimist Club. Tickets are $30 with food provided.
DONATIONS
"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me"
Financial donations are appreciated as this allows for purchase of the most needed foods at bulk purchase prices. Donations can be made at the parish office, at the food bank and in the foyer after each Mass. Donation envelopes can be used which allow for a charitable donation tax receipt to be issued. If you wish to mail in a donation, a cheque can be sent to: S Vincent de Paul, 272 Vine St., St. Catharines ON L2M 4T3. Include your name and address to receive a tax receipt.
YOU CAN MAKE AN ELECTRONIC DONATION NOW
For your convenience we are now set up to accept E-Transfers as a way to make a donation to the food bank located at St. Alfred Church.
1) Go online to your bank account and choose "Interac Transfer". Select a recipient. The first time you will have to "Add Recipient" by typing stvincentdepaul.donations@gmail.com
2) Input the amount to send and complete the transaction. To receive an Income Tax Receipt include your name and address in the Message section.
Food donations and dry goods can be left at the food bank during open hours and in the collection bins in the Church foyer. In lieu of gifts, people often ask for food donations at birthday events, anniversaries and other social gatherings. We also value donations of personal care items such as baby products, toiletries, dog/cat food, etc. Farm and garden donations are most welcome. Ongoing Needs include: Peanut Butter, Cheez Whiz, cereal, tuna, canned vegetables, Kraft Dinner, soup, pasta and pasta sauce, canned beans, canned stews/chili.
School and Other Food Drives are a very important source of food donations. Use the contact information below to make appropriate arrangements. Please use our donation barrels, located near exit doors, at various grocery stores in North St. Catharines. You can purchase and leave various food items here for our volunteers to pickup. You will also see pre-packaged bags of groceries that can be purchased for donation at Sobey's and Food Basics.
Corporate Donors provide the Food Bank with many food items on a daily, weekly and yearly basis. Our current donors include Purolator, Sobey's, Zehrs, COSTCO, E.D. Smith, Érablière Raynald Paquin Maple Syrup, Food Basics , Warner's Farms, Colonial Florists (van der Zalm Family), Pete's Pizza Pleasant Avenue, Silverline Group Inc., Post Cereals , ToolBox Project Niagara and United Way Niagara. Please support our donors. Érablière Raynald Paquin donates Grade A Quebec maple syrup to the food bank each year. You can support the food bank by purchasing this at $60 for a case of 8 cans or $8 per single can - makes great gifts for teachers, family, friends, etc.
Dec 5, 2024: A GREAT BIG THANKS TO ALL EMPLOYEES OF SILVERLINE GROUP INC. for their kind and generous donation of food at this time. This will help so many of our clients have a much better Christmas this year.
UNPACKING AND SHELVING SCHOOL DONATIONS - MARCH 10 2023
MANY THANKS TO TOOLBOX NIAGARA - James Symons donating TOOLBOX Care Kits - Dec 2024
MEETING SCHEDULE (for all volunteers)
Meetings start at 2 pm - we encourage members to attend as we need your input . . .
December 13 & 14 - Christmas Box Distribution - see schedule on wall under clock in food bank
January 22
February 19
March 19
April 16
CONTACT INFORMATION
Call 905-934-9703 during open hours and ask for the Food Bank
President: Mary Little
Vice President: Dennis Munn
Treasurer: Chris Richardson
Secretary: Marg Ives
Computer & FileMaker Database: Rick Hatrick
Volunteer Coordinator: Lorna Toye
Inventory & Website: Dennis Munn
Volunteer Application Forms: St. Alfred Parish Office - click HERE for more information on how to become a volunteer in the Food Bank
Our Mission is to live the Gospel message
by serving Christ in the poor
with love, respect, justice, and joy.
Dec 4 2023
LINKS
A BIG THANKS to St. Alfred School for a HUGE donation of food items in 2023 and to Assumption, Our Lady of Fatima and Canadian Martyrs Schools for their amazing food drives in March, 2024!
PLEASE PATRONIZE OUR CORPORATE DONORS