UPDATE: May 16, 2013 - Collection bags will continue to come in over the next few weeks, so we are confident in predicting that we should receive enough food items to hit the 90,000 pound mark. Although this is short of our 100,000 pound goal, we are very pleased with the outcome.
 
We would like to thank the entire Kingston community for their generosity and thier continued support of our service. We applaud our volunteers and organizers for continuing to support this Blitz year after year. 
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It’s that time of the year again! The 28th Annual Hotel Dieu Hospital Food Blitz is set for May 15, 2013 from 6pm to 9pm. Canvassers with Food Drive badges will be going door-to-door collecting non-perishables to help stock our shelves. 
Collection bags will be included in the Kingston This Week May 9th edition for convenient doorstep pick-up on the Blitz evening. Alternatively, groceries may be dropped off at any major grocery store or directly at our location at 140 Hickson Avenue. Monetary donations can be made by selecting “Donate Now” on our home page.
 
Since the fall of 2008, the food bank has experienced a 22% increase in demand for assistance and in 2012, an additional increase of 5.5%. As a distribution centre for the area, last year we shared 46,000 lbs. of food and 36,000 lbs. of fresh produce with hot meal and shelter programs. From the time that we opened our doors in 1984, we have distributed 234,644 food hampers to low-income families throughout the greater Kingston area.
 
Last year’s Blitz brought in 95,000 items and to date the food bank has collected nearly 25,000,000 non-perishables from the annual event. The yearly target of 100,000 items helps us provide to those in need for the better part of the year.
 
All donations are welcome, but specific items needed are peanut butter, juice, rice, tuna, canned fruits and canned vegetables. Baby food and baby formula will also be gratefully accepted.
 
Two warehouses will be active the night of the blitz. In Amherstview, the Knights of Columbus will be receiving and sorting groceries at the Amherstview Fire Hall at 363 Amherst Drive. The second site will be at our location in the warehouse at 140 Hickson Avenue.
 
Students from Regiopolis-Notre Dame High School will be volunteering here unloading trucks, sorting and packing. Holy Cross Secondary School students will be out canvassing Kingston west area and sorting at their school at 1085 Woodbine Road.
 
For those wanting to volunteer by forming or joining a collection team for the Blitz on May 15th please contact Sarah Butler at the Hotel Dieu Hospital 544-3400 ext. 3072, or Partners in Mission Food Bank directly at 544-4534.