Food Bank grateful despite shortfall on annual Food Blitz

Tori Stafford

Although their goal of collecting 30,000 lbs of food and $60,000 in donations was not realized at this year’s Food Blitz, the Partners in Mission Food Bank is giving thanks to all those who participated in the Blitz after a two-year hiatus.

Dan Irwin, Executive Director of the Partners in Mission Food Bank, looks elated as he gestures to the over 26,000 lbs of food donated to the Food Bank through its annual Food Blitz, held this year on Saturday, Apr. 9, 2022. Submitted photo.

After the annual “essential food drive” for the Food Bank was put on hold for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Partners in Mission set lofty goals for the 2022 Blitz, reflective of the increased demand in food security services throughout the pandemic. And while the goals were not quite reached, Dan Irwin, Executive Director of the Partners in Mission Food Bank, expressed sincere gratitude for the Blitz results, which were exceptional, nonetheless.

In total, the Food Blitz, which took place on Saturday, Apr. 9, 2022, at nine different grocery stores, collected 26,400 lbs of food donations, just 3,600 lbs shy of the campaign goal.

“We are very happy with this result, given the food price increases families have been facing,” said Dan Irwin, Executive Director of the Partners in Mission Food Bank. “As Kingston’s food bank, our annual Food Blitz has been an essential food drive for us every spring since 1984.”

In terms of monetary donations, the Food Bank received $51,904 in April 2022, just over $8,000 less than the organization’s fundraising goal for the month, Irwin shared.

“Although we were short of our goal, we are again pleased with the result,” he said.

With two years off, the return of the Food Blitz was only possible thanks to those local grocery stores who partner with the Food Bank for the event, Irwin expressed. The Partners in Mission Food Bank would like to thank those partners: Grant’s No Frills on Division Street, Chris & Beth’s No Frills on Coverdale Drive, Freshco on Princess Street, Food Basics on Highway 15, the Metro locations on Gardiners Road and Bayridge Drive, the Loblaws locations on Princess Street and Midland Avenue, and Van Wart’s Your Independent Grocer on Gore Road.

Irwin and his team also extended “a heart felt thank you” to their volunteers from the following organizations:

  • Kingston Rotary groups
  • Kingston and Area Real Estate Association
  • Kingston Health Sciences Centre
  • RBC
  • BMO
  • Kingston Police Volunteers
  • Secura Financial
  • CFB Kingston
  • Holy Cross Secondary School
  • Queen’s Islamic Relief
Volunteers from CBF Kingston and Partners in Mission Food Bank at Van Warts Your Independent Grocer.
Volunteers from Secura Financial at the Kingston Centre Loblaws.
Volunteers from RBC at Freshco.
Volunteers from the Kingston and Area Real Estate Association at Loblaws on Midland Avenue.
Volunteers with CFB Kingston and the Partners in Mission team at the Highway 15 Food Basics location.
Volunteers with the Partners in Mission Food Bank at the Bayridge Metro location.
Volunteers from the Kingston Police Community Volunteers at the Loblaws located in the Kingston Centre during the Partners in Mission Food Bank Food Blitz on Saturday, Apr. 9, 2022.
All photos submitted.

Irwin also expressed gratitude towards the countless individual volunteers who offered their support.

“Their incredible assistance brings our mission ‘to provide nourishment, hope, and support in our community with an opportunity for all to share’ to life,” he said.

“Partners in Mission Food Bank has been helping our Kingston neighbours in need for almost 38 years. We do not receive government or agency funding, and we rely solely on our community for food and financial support.”

For more information on the local food bank, visit the Partners in Mission Food Bank website.

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