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The annual food drive is underway at Longo’s in Burlington.
Matt Hayes is at the Fairview & Maple location.
Transcript (Note: this is taken from our closed captioning so there may be some paraphrasing.)
Matt Hayes, CHCH News: We are here at Longos and we are collecting food for the Good Shepherd. Brother Terrence, you are in charge of the warehouse at the Good Shepherd and that must be a very busy place right now.
Brother Terrence: At the moment it is fantastic. It is electrifing. We can see the people there. By the time we finish it will be 3,000 food hampers. And the gifts and the toys that we are giving to the children, it is a great programme to be a part of, you know?
CHCH: How many people will you be serving in terms of food hampers and gifts?
Well over 3,000 for sure. That would not be possible without the support of the community. We have a great community, very supportive and it is for the generousity we were able to do what we do in the community.
CHCH: We talk about it a lot, but the need is not just at Christmas time.
Oh no, Matt. Many months throughout the year in the summer time. It is continuous. Christmas time, of course it is extra. Throughout, a great need as well.
CHCH: It is great people respond to that need and it is great that there are lots of local community partners like Longo’s that get on board with food drives like the one we are at today.
Many agencies in our city support us throughout the year and throughout the season of Christmas. Again we couldn’t do it without them and we are so grateful for what we have. An elderly couple saves up to buy food. You know what, you come back the first week and they say, brother, you are going to buy four turkeys for your hamper programme. They come back and they make sure they see me when they come back. Give me the turkeys and they say, brother, this is for your hamper programme. And the expression on their faces, you can’t buy it in Hamilton. You can’t buy it in the shops. It is excellent.
CHCH: That’s what Christmas is about.
They say you are surprised? I say it is not unusual.
CHCH: Well, listen, I know you have a lot of work to do because it is counting down to crunch time.
On one line, on behalf of the people we serve, our volunteers and our staff want to wish you all God bless you and a very Merry Christmas.
