The Chantry Island Cham-bettes of Saugeen Shores is a group of local philanthropic women volunteers who raise funds through a variety of projects with proceeds going back into their community.
This year, 2024, they again continued their 5th annual ‘Sharecrow’ food drive for local food banks.
In 2023, the project collected approximately three tons of food and $6,000 in cash donations and, this year, the preliminary collection count appears to be topping last year, exceeding all expectations.
Some 85 locations came on board this year, from individual homes to businesses, churches to charitable organizations throughout the community featuring scarecrow displays with food bank drop-offs.
On Friday, November 1st, the Cham-bettes worked in alternating teams throughout drop-off day, at the Boathouse in Southampton, where food was continually brought in and had to be sorted to ensure that each of the four area food banks received equal amounts.
Boxes were filled with needed food-bank items and they piled up throughout the day. The Cham-bettes worked tirelessly from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., separating items for the Salvation Army Food Bank, Saugeen First Nations Food Bank, Living Hope Food Basket and St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank.
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Last year saw 55 boxes of food delivered to each of the food banks and, although a final count has not yet been determined, it is anticipated that the result this year easily exceeds the previous number.
“This community never ceases to astound,” said concept founder and organizer, Cham-bette Cheryl Pauchuk. In a recent interview by reporter Scott Miller of CKNX television, Pauchuk said she hopes the “… Sharecrow movement in support of food banks will become a national and international movement.”
Stay tuned for final numbers.
