The local food bank got an infusion of $1,000 worth of food after Grade 7 students from Arthur Public School went on a “Shop with a Cop” shopping spree at the Foodland store.
The students were split into 10 teams of five, scouring shelves and shopping for individuals and families of varying sizes to find nutritional items. The teams filled a hamper worth up to $100 worth of food with the team coming closest to the maximum without going over winning. Students were not allowed to use calculators when totalling their purchases.
The teams were mentored by OPP officers, firefighters and ambulance workers while shopping. TD Canada Trust donated the $1,000 to the cause. Bank manager Elisabeth Wolff handed out envelopes containing $100 for the shopping teams.
Food bank president Tammy Pringle said the service is looking for non-perishable food items. The food bank provides food to some 120 people each month and is open every Tuesday from 10am until noon for its customers. The numbers, she said, are down from a high of 140 individuals at the height of the recession three years ago. However, she added, the volunteer-run food bank still has a steady clientele.
Food bank secretary Marilyn Theurer met with the students earlier in the week to talk about food items they should purchase and about the work the food bank does in the community.
Clients have to provide photo identification to register for the food bank service and indicate the number of family members they are collecting for.
The food bank services the village and surrounding area and shares services and food with the Centre Wellington Food Bank.
Keith Bell, who operates the Foodland store with his wife Connie, praised the effort by students to get groceries for those in need.
“It’s a great event,” Bell said. “There’s so many lessons to be learned with this.”
Principal Brent Ellery also applauded the effort.
“It’s a fantastic program,” he said as his students went through the aisles. “It’s had our kids excited all week. They’re making the most of what they’re doing in the community.”
Ellery said the only complaint he received from some of his students was that the grocery package could not include perishables such as milk and vegetables.
“We’ve got 54 students and this will be a blast,” OPP detachment commander Inspector Scott Lawson told those attending a breakfast prior to the start of the shopping spree.
Mayor Ray Tout said the event teaches students how to budget for their grocery needs and about helping those less fortunate in the community.
“It’s a win-win situation,” he said. “The idea is to have fun and it’s good for the food bank.”
Wolff said the bank plans to host three more events with other schools in Arthur, Kenilworth and Mount Forest.
