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The Rotary Club of Waterdown has been involved and supporting a Foods4Kids program for the past five years. The goal of the program is to get non-perishables and fresh fruit, vegetables, and bread specifically for the identified child year round. In past years, funding came from Rotary Brunches and local sponsors.Rotarians Darryl Kirkland and Michael Collette shop for perishable food and combine them with the non-perishables and deliver them to the schools. Pictured are Michael Collette (seated left) and Darryl Kirkland (seated right) at a recent Food4Kids fundraiser.
Community support is strong with parent council members also making deliveries. Last year, we added students from the local high school as well as a local public school and are able to take care of 18 student families. Waterdown Rotary members deliver food on Wednesdays because the school’s Professional Development days fall on Fridays and some of these children are small enough that the bags would be too heavy to carry home all at once. Due to COVID and school shutdowns these children are receiving a $25 grocery card every two week.
Food4Kids was started in Hamilton in 2012 to provide healthy food for kids from at-risk, low-income or disadvantaged homes with limited or no food during weekend periods or during the summer months. When Collette learned of this program, he brought it to Waterdown Rotary and has been a driving force for local students and families.