Gleaners Food Bank is challenging the Belleville community to come together on Thursday, October 1 for an ambitious goal: collect 50,000 pounds of food in just one day.
The Full Plates Project will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at three grocery store locations across Belleville:
Joe’s No Frills – Bell Blvd.
Metro – North Front St.
McDowell’s Independent Grocer – Dundas St.
To help reach this goal, Gleaners is introducing a simple community challenge called 15 & 15.
Belleville has approximately 23,500 households. If just 15-per cent of those households donated 15 pounds of food, the community would surpass the 50,000-pound goal.
“Fifty thousand pounds sounds like a massive number, and it is,” says Jodie Jenkins, Community Engagement Specialist with Gleaners Food Bank.
“But when you break it down, it becomes something our entire community can be part of. We’re asking about 3,500 households to donate 15 pounds of food, basically a couple of grocery bags. If Belleville gets behind 15 & 15, we can do something pretty incredible together.”
Throughout the day, volunteers will be stationed at all three locations collecting non-perishable food and financial donations, talking with shoppers and encouraging the community to help reach the goal.
In addition to collecting 50,000 pounds of food, Gleaners has set a goal of raising $10,000 in financial support during the Full Plates Project.
The food collected will help stock the shelves at The Community Market at Gleaners and support individuals and families who rely on the food bank.
Residents are encouraged to pick up extra food while shopping, bring donations from home, organize collections and help spread the word about the 15 & 15 Challenge.
