04/26/2026
What an incredible few days of Community Kindness here in Chatham!!!
Our Knights of Columbus Blessed Sacrament Council #1412’s “SEMI-ANNUAL SPRING MEGASIZE FOOD DRIVE AND FUNDRAISING OUTREACH”, held April 23–25 at Food Basics and Real Canadian Superstore Chatham, was a tremendous success in support of the Salvation Army Chatham-Kent Ministries Food Bank at 46 Orangewood Blvd., Chatham!!!
Thanks to the remarkable generosity of Chatham-Kent shoppers, we collected over 300 banana boxes packed full of high priority needs of the food bank — totaling approximately 17,000 pounds of food — arriving, as the food bank shared, “exactly at the right time as our stores were significantly deflated!”
We are deeply grateful to our nearly 60 dedicated volunteers, including members of all the Knights of Columbus in Chatham, 4th Degree Father James Assembled, Catholic Women’s League, Conagra Brands Foods, Dresden (Corporate Partner with Distinction), Salvation Army and Blessed Sacrament parishioners, students from UCC and CKSS, and Community Living Chatham.
We extend our sincere and heartfelt thanks to our Salvation Army community partners — Pastors Jamie and Lana Anstey; Oliver (Driver); Stephen (Assistant); Maria Wall (Administration); Kim Stratton; Charlie Slade — and all who generously contributed their time, energy, and commitment to this effort.
The “shopping list” of high-priority needs for the food bank was a major success factor once again, helping donors focus on purchasing the items most urgently required. The familiar “SALVATION ARMY RED KETTLES” — along with TAP donation options — made giving easy and accessible.
Cash, debit, and gift card totals are still being finalized, with a formal cheque presentation planned for mid-May.
To every shopper, volunteer, store team member, and community partner: thank you. Your generosity is feeding families, lifting spirits, and proving once again that Chatham-Kent shows up when it most needed!!! Blessings!!!🙏🏻💛🪽
