MINTO – Deputy Mayor Dave Turton is reminding the community that, with the Christmas season drawing closer, local food banks will need additional support.
Turton advised council on Nov. 3 that he recently spoke with representatives of Minto food banks in Clifford, Harriston and Palmerston.
“Christmas is coming. All three food banks are doing extremely well,” said Turton.
“They’ve had lots of support from the community. The families that are in need of help, the numbers are very similar to last year.”
He added, “The food banks do a lot of gift giving and food baskets and this is probably a time they could use support.”
Turton noted anyone wishing to donate can call one of the three food banks “or just take a gift to the food bank.”
Minto Chris Harrow noted that as part of the local fire department’s “Santa Cruise” they will be picking up food bank donations left at the end of driveways.
The modified parades – Nov. 21 in Harriston, Nov. 28 in Clifford and Dec. 5 in Palmerston – will feature local firefighters “escorting Santa around behind a fire truck to as many streets in town as we can,” Harrow explained.
Anderson Community Christmas
Councillor Jean Anderson reported she and her husband, Wellington County councillor Dave Anderson, will once again be hosting their Anderson Community Christmas event on Dec. 25.
“David and I are going ahead with the Christmas dinner, with modifications of course,” she advised council.
The free event, which is open to everyone looking to spend some time with others on Christmas day, has attracted large crowds to community centres in Clifford, Palmerston and Harriston over the four years since it began.
“We won’t be having a sit-down dinner. There’s no way to put that number of people in there,” Anderson stated.
“You’d have to have like six sittings. But we will be cooking the meal, preparing the meal and organizing pickup or takeout, similar to some of the church suppers lately.”
She added, “We will be working on that and figuring out the logistics, but it is going ahead.”
The fourth annual Anderson’s Community Christmas event, hosted by Jean and Dave Anderson of Minto, was held on Dec. 25, 2019 at the Clifford Community Hall, with a large crowd attending. Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, this year’s event will feature takeout and delivery of meals only. Advertiser file photo
