Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie issued a city wide challenge on September 16th.
‘Our goal is to raise 225,000 lbs of food and collect $125,000 by October 13th.’ the Mayor announced with much enthusiasm at the start of the community launch event held in the Streetsville Village Square.
The Active Goan Adults (AGA), formerly known as the Goan Cultural Group who meets at the Square One Older Adults Centre, were the only Goan Group in Mississauga to accepted the Mayor’s 2017 #OneBagChallenge. Congratulations to them. A number of other local Goan organization completed food drives during the year.
The Mayor’s #One-Bag-Challenge is a part of The Mississauga Food Bank’s annual Thanksgiving Day food drive that meets a hidden but growing need in the City. The non-profit organization acts the central collection, sorting, and distribution hub for local small food banks. This year they continue a partnership with the City’s Fire and Emergency Services team to ensure prompt collection and transfer of donations. The public was invited drop items a local Fire Hall during campaign.
The Mayor issued her challenge to all residents, organizations, schools and businesses across the City. The campaign goal is reach and surpasses last year’s total.
The need is great. ‘For the 15% of Mississauga residents who live in poverty, providing adequate nutritious food for their families is a daily struggle. Our shared vision is a Mississauga where no one goes hungry,’ said the Mayor.
Many residents also depend on food banks during temporary, sudden, and unforeseen circumstances during career transition, sickness, disability, and domestic disturbances. The Mississauga Food Bank provides food for over 244,000 meals each month through a network of 48 organized member agencies. In addition to this many more meals are provided across the City by numerous non-accredited organizations, school board programs, and food supplement programs run by churches and area charities.
The AGA’s Food Drive was completed on Oct 4th and the items were delivered to the Malton Fire Hall for transfer.
“We as a community need to get more involved in projects like this,” noted Joyce Noronha, who was one of the AGA members who helped organize photo.
“I think our members found the effort worthwhile,” commented John J. D’Souza.
Directors Tim D’Mello and Juliet Rebello were unable to attend the meeting that included the group photo session. Both were supporters of this initiative.
Albert Peres, photo and article | editor@goaculturelist.ca