1st Carp Scouts collecting food Dec. 13

CARP – For 38 years the Carp Food Drive has been an important part of the community’s holiday celebrations.

For year 39, the 1st Carp Scouts hope to make it the biggest year yet.

And that will be hard to do after last year’s success.

“I think it really started with the church (St. James’ Anglican Church),” 1st Carp Scouts leader Dan Hewitt told West Carleton Online last week (Nov. 22). “It’s grown so big with the school helping. They deliver the bags during school hours. Last year we had a big tandem trailer and three sport utility vehicles full. The tires were squatted down on the trailer.”

In today’s dollars, Hewitt estimated the scouts must have collected around $20,000 in groceries.

This year Huntley Public School students are delivering 1,000 reuseable grocery bags and food drive flyers to Carp area residents (or maybe they already have). Getting those bags was a chore in itself, as several grocery stores were approached, but eventually said they couldn’t do it.

“Special thanks to Darlene Severson and the Hudson family of Burnbrae Farms, who ended up donating the bags,” Hewitt said.

Residents who received bags (and, heck, even if you didn’t receive a bag, you can still participate), are encouraged to fill those bags with non-perishable goods.

The West Carleton Food Access Centre (WCFAC) has a special need for canned fish, meat, fruit and vegetables, pasta and pasta sauce, rice, oatmeal, cereal, peanut butter, dry beans and legumes. Please do not include food with expired dates – they cannot be distributed by the WCFAC. Monetary donations are used exclusively to purchase food.

Essential supplies for babies and toiletries are warmly accepted as well, and of course, any donation is greatly appreciated.

That’s the hard part. Giving is easy. Just leave your donation outside your front door or at the end of your driveway the morning of Saturday, Dec. 13 (before 10 a.m.). The 1st Carp Scouts including the Scouts, Beavers, Cubs and Venturers, and their support staff (read parents) will come by and pick up all donations starting at 10 a.m.

“We have the whole village routed,” Hewitt said.

For those who prefer to deliver their donations, deliveries can be dropped off at the Carp Fairgrounds (3790 Carp Rd.). There will be hot dogs at the drop off spot.

“It’s kind of a fun atmosphere,” Hewitt said. “We’re happy to support the community. It’s an important initiative for the kids, to learn to give back to the community. We collect along the routes and then we’ll help deliver it to the WCFAC on Sunday (Dec. 14).”

“We’re looking for everyone’s generous support,” 1st Carp Scouts leader Cameron Steadman said. “Thank you so much for your generous donations. Your kindness and support mean the world to Carp and make a real difference in our community.”

Don’t forget, later that evening is the 16th annual Carp Santa Claus Parade, if you miss the morning donation, firefighters along the parade route will also be accepting donations to the WCFAC.