Salvation Army Drive Collects 10,000 Pounds of Food in Mississauga

Mississauga, Ont., is home to Canada’s largest international airport. As a result, the local Salvation Army receives calls for assistance from newcomers starting a new life.

“We are the first door that people knock on when they come from other countries for support and we are happy to provide that,” says Joel Binner, director of community and family services at The Salvation Army’s Mississauga Community Church.

Like much of the country, the region is seeing increased demand for food assistance. With newcomers joining the established residents who already access services, the organization must be prepared to meet the needs of a growing number of clients.

Last month, local businesses, churches and volunteers came together to assist the community in a big way.

A Crucial Time for Support

Across its three locations in Mississauga, The Salvation Army hosted a food drive that collected approximately 10,000 pounds of nourishment.

“It was really successful this year, so we are very happy about that,” Joel adds.

Fall is often a challenging period for food banks to keep their shelves stocked. According to Joel, many donors tend to give during holidays, leaving the months between Easter and Thanksgiving with fewer donations. 

“The hardest time of year for us is usually from late August into October.”

For this reason, The Salvation Army hosts the drive in the fall. It also helps ensure clients have access to food as the festive season approaches.

“Christmas is a really expensive time of the year for folks, and when you’re already struggling to pay rent or buy groceries, that creates extra pressure on people hoping to buy presents for their loved ones,” Joel says. “We just want to support families so that they can save a little bit of money and help parents experience the joy of being able to afford something to give to their children.”

City-wide Effort

Community involvement was key to the food drive’s success. Among those who volunteered was a group of high school students stationed outside a grocery store, encouraging shoppers to donate.

Joel was impressed by their commitment and said the experience gave the teens an opportunity to recognize that many people struggle to afford basic necessities.

“It was a twofold benefit,” he says. “We were helping the community and we also educated the young folks, who are the ones who hopefully will be running food drives for us in the future.”

The donations collected last month will leave The Salvation Army in Mississauga with enough stock through the lead-up to Christmas. Joel thanks everyone in the city who generously contributed in any way.

“At The Salvation Army, we run on volunteers and community support,” he says. “Without people caring about their neighbours, we wouldn’t exist as an organization.”

By Juan Romero