September is a busy time for families with school-aged children. Not only is there all the excitement and rush surrounding the first day of school, there is all the work that goes into getting the kids ready. Back to school clothes and shoes, school supplies and stationary, lunch boxes and thermoses, it seems the list gets a little bit longer every year. It can be a stressful time for anyone with school-aged children. For those struggling to make ends meet, it can be particularly challenging.
This year, Halifax District RCMP is organizing a food drive on behalf of Feed Nova Scotia for the month of September.
“We're hoping to help needy families offset the cost of school supplies, and make it a little easier for those same families come Thanksgiving,” said Chief Superintendent Jean-Michel Blais, officer in charge of Halifax District RCMP. “We encourage both RCMP employees and members of the public to donate either food, money, or both at any of our detachments across the district.”
Feed Nova Scotia donations will be accepted at the following locations:
· Lower Sackville Detachment – 711 Old Sackville Rd, Lower Sackville
· Tantallon Detachment – 1 Eleanor Dr, Stillwater Lake
· Cole HarbourDetachment – 1171 Cole Harbour Rd, Cole Harbour
· Preston Unit Office – 44 Simmonds Road, North Preston
· Musquodoboit Harbour Detachment – 7929 Highway 7, Musquodoboit Harbour
· North Central (Middle Musquodoboit) Office – 12270 Hwy 224, Middle Musquodoboit
Sheet Harbour Detachment – 22552 Highway 7, Sheet HarbourNon-perishable items that are particularly helpful include:
· canned vegetables, fruit, meat and fish
· flour and sugar
· pasta
· peanut butter
· baked beans
· canned or powdered milk
· soups and stews
· breakfast cereal
The Halifax RCMP Helping Those in Need Food Drivewill start on Sept. 4, after the Labour Day long weekend and will run until the end of September. All the offices listed above are open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
According to the most recent data provided by Feed Nova Scotia, over 22,000 Nova Scotians are assisted by food banks on a regular basis. Of those, 31.5 per cent are children under the age of 18. Demand for food bank services in Nova Scotia is growing, increasing by 33 per cent since 2008. “In a country such as Canada, one person going to bed hungry at night is one person too many.” said Chief Superintendent Blais. “I believe we have it within ourselves as Nova Scotians to pull together and make a positive difference in the lives of others, because we never know who can be in need: our neighbours, our friends, even our family.”
When it comes to helping those in need, small gestures from a large group can make a huge difference. Imagine if for one month, you picked up an extra food item every time you went to the grocery store, and simply tucked it away in a box or bag. You likely wouldn’t notice a big difference in the cost of your groceries, and you’d likely be surprised at how much you collect over the course of a few weeks. Now imagine if everyone on your street did the same thing. Imagine the difference it could make in the lives of those in need.
Thank you for making that difference in the lives of others.
