Thunder Bay Postal Workers Gear Up for Door-to-Door Food Drive

The Regional Food Distribution Association of Thunder Bay (RFDA) is gearing up for its annual Stamp Out Hunger event, known as the Posties Food Drive.

Thunder Bay residents are invited to place non-perishable food items in a waterproof bag, either hung from their mailbox or placed outside their front door, on Saturday for collection by Canada Post workers.

“We’re in search of high-value protein items and various staples for simple meals,” explained Volker Kromm, the RFDA’s executive director.

The RFDA provides assistance to over 11,500 individuals throughout northwestern Ontario.

This marks the first year the food drive has taken place since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, it ranked as the organization’s second-largest food drive of the year.

“We’re looking forward to getting a lot of food back. Although the shelves aren’t empty, we are really missing a lot of the basic necessities that come in through the random donations that come from the people here in Thunder Bay,”

Although food drives are commonly linked with holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, Kromm noted the importance of additional donations during the summer months when students are on break.

“The food need doesn’t go away,” he said. “I would really love to be able to ramp up our supply — because as kids are home, they’ll be eating more at home and there will be more of a demand for those extra things.”

The RFDA emphasizes its current demand for canned meat, vegetables, soup, pasta, peanut butter, baby food, and cereal. Monetary contributions are equally appreciated as they enable the purchase of fresh produce and other essential items.

Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Posties Food Drive typically yielded approximately nine tonnes of food, according to Kromm.

Beyond addressing food insecurity in the area, Kromm highlighted that the food drive also offers an opportunity for community members to express gratitude towards their local postal workers for their contributions to the community.

While Kromm and his team are occupied stocking up the warehouse, Alexandra Grzelewski is preparing the RFDA’s gardens for the upcoming summer season.

Grzelewski, serving as the RFDA’s horticulturist and community engagement coordinator, began her journey as a student gardener before pursuing studies in horticulture at the University of Guelph. The RFDA manages community gardens at Redwood Park Church and the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority, with plans underway to establish a new one at Confederation College this year.

The primary objective is to cultivate root vegetables like potatoes, beets, carrots, and onions, known for their extended shelf life and ease of processing in the RFDA’s kitchens.

A new inclusion this year will be the introduction of beehives, prompting Grzelewski to also sow flowers to provide support for the pollinators.

Collections for the Posties Food Drive will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. In the event any households are inadvertently missed, residents are kindly requested to place their donation bags back out by 9 a.m. on Monday.