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'Need is growing': As more face financial hardship, Newmarket responds to toy and food drive

Donations go to Salvation Army and Newmarket Food Pantry

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 18, 2023

With many families and individuals in the community struggling to make ends meet, Santa’s elves were at Newmarket’s administrative offices Dec. 13 to hand over donated toys and food to the Salvation Army and the Newmarket Food Pantry.

Capt. Fred Reid of the Salvation Army’s Northridge Community Church, which serves Aurora, Newmarket, northern King Township and other surrounding communities, offered a “very deep and heartfelt thank you” for the donors and volunteers who made the campaign a success.

“We wouldn’t be able to do what we do as the Salvation Army here in York Region without your support. The tagline of the Salvation Army is giving hope today. And we often talk about hope taking different forms,” he said.

“For some, it’s a warm place to stay; for others, it’s groceries in the cupboard. At this time of year, for a huge population within York Region, it’s Christmas presents under the tree for our kids and being able to provide that experience on the 25th.”

The food pantry fed a record 1,969 individuals in November.

“Times are tough. The cost of groceries is very high. Even in November, we saw the most amount of people (ever) come through the pantry, which was actually 68 per cent growth year over year,” board chair Chris Cartwright said.

“You can imagine how important it is for the community and to everyone, thank you for coming together because this is going to allow people to maybe pay a bill or put an extra toy under the tree or just feed their family.”

James Stortz, president of Newmarket business SE Telecom, which donated $10,000, attended the event, after which toys and food were collected and delivered to the Salvation Army and food pantry.

The response of the community to help neighbours in need is impressive, Mayor John Taylor said.

“This clearly is a time that reminds us what this season’s really all about. It’s a pretty darn moving example of what we all hope is at the core of this holiday season, in terms of thinking of others and giving back,” he said.

“I think it goes without saying that we all know, in the last few years, the need people in our community are facing tougher times, affordability challenges and the need is growing. The great thing is the community is responding to that and the community is keeping up with that need … Newmarket is stronger for it.”