Community push to restock shelves before students return
The annual All Hands on Deck Food Drive will be back in St. Thomas on Thursday, Aug. 20, as volunteers and radio partners look to replenish local food-bank supplies ahead of the new school year.
Now in its eighth year, the effort is led by myFM in partnership with Space Snacks & Galactic Sodas. Organizers will collect donations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Real Canadian Superstore in St. Thomas, with simultaneous collection points at Miller’s Your Independent Grocer in Aylmer and Foodland in Port Stanley.
Rising demand at St. Thomas Elgin Food Bank
Staff at the St. Thomas Elgin Food Bank say the need in the community has grown steadily through the summer. The food bank’s Manager of Operations, Sarah Coleman, told local media the organisation is serving a record number of families and children and the Summer Top-Up Program has expanded to meet demand.
“The need has never been greater,”
Coleman emphasised that the food drive comes at a critical moment, helping ensure families have access to essentials as children head back to the classroom. She said the campaign is also an opportunity for neighbours to demonstrate support and solidarity in a year where many households are stretching budgets further than usual.
What to donate — priorities for local families
The food bank has highlighted specific items that are particularly useful for children’s lunches and pantry staples. Volunteers at each location will have shopping lists identifying each partner food bank’s greatest needs.
- Kid-friendly lunch items: granola bars, applesauce cups, juice boxes, cereal
- Pantry staples: peanut butter, canned meat, oatmeal, Kraft Dinner
- Other: non-perishable foods that can provide ready-to-eat or easy-to-prepare meals
Where and when to drop off donations
The in-person collection will concentrate on three grocery locations across Elgin County to make donating convenient for shoppers.
| Location | City | Collection time |
|---|---|---|
| Real Canadian Superstore | St. Thomas | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Aug. 20 |
| Miller’s Your Independent Grocer | Aylmer | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Aug. 20 |
| Foodland | Port Stanley | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Aug. 20 |
Local impact and context
Food drives such as this one play a recurring role in supplementing the operations of charitable food programs in smaller urban centres and rural townships across Ontario. For St. Thomas and surrounding Elgin County, the end-of-summer period is particularly important: as children return to school the composition of household needs changes, and food banks typically see demand spike for lunch-friendly items and easily prepared meals.
Organisers say the event is designed to be accessible for residents who want to give a single grocery bag while running errands. Volunteers from myFM, Space Snacks & Galactic Sodas and local community partners will be on site to accept donations and direct donors to the items most urgently required.
How residents can help beyond drop-offs
- Donate preferred items from the published lists at each collection site.
- Volunteer to help on the day of the drive by contacting myFM or the St. Thomas Elgin Food Bank.
- Spread the word: share collection details with neighbours and on social media to boost turnout.
The All Hands on Deck Food Drive is one of several community initiatives that local agencies and volunteers use to close the gap between rising demand and available resources. For families and residents in St. Thomas, the drive offers a simple, local way to help ensure no student starts the school year without access to basic food needs.
