For many, Christmas is a time of excess—of exchanging gifts and feasting. But for a growing segment of the population, the holidays serve as a sad reminder of the fact that they’re struggling.
Realizing how difficult Christmas can be for those who barely can afford to put food on the table, years ago, Maria Kenny decided to do something about it.
Following her death in 2014, her four children—Tim, John, Rhonda and Mike—picked up the torch and carried on the tradition started years ago by the well-known Thorold school teacher.
In memory of their mother—whose birthday falls within Christmas week—the four siblings and their families celebrate the occasion by donating enough food to ensure that no Thorold family has to face the bleak prospect of being hungry during the holidays.
Affectionately known as “the Maria Kenny army” by Albert Ciamarra, a volunteer with the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Knights of Columbus—the group collects contributions of cash from family and friends, starts searching for deals on non-perishable food in the fall, and stockpiling it for families who have registered for help at Community Care.
Leading up to Christmas, the mountain of food is hauled to Holy Rosary Church Hall, where it’s separated and packaged into hefty boxes loaded with similar items for each family.
This year, Thorold dentists Dr. Raimondo and Dr. Maletta pitched in by donating toothbrushes and toothpaste—including specialty brands for children—to add to the 70 boxes.
A Big Red Markets truck backed up to the church hall Friday, where delivery driver Mike Horth unloaded crate after crate of fresh fruits and vegetables to church volunteers.
For years, the food store’s owners “help out by giving us good deals on produce,” Aldo Pighin told the Thorold News.
In addition to a huge box of non-perishables—containing everything from staples like cereal and pasta, peanut butter and jam to condiments, candy, coffee, tea, foil, and laundry detergent—each family receives a basket of apples, crate of clementines, bag of carrots and sack of potatoes.
The Knights of Columbus and St. Vincent de Paul Society, both of which have headquarters at Holy Rosary Church Hall, also ensure that each family has a voucher to buy turkey or ham.
“We give them $20, $40, or $60 vouchers for Foodland, depending on the size of the family,” said Pighin.
“We also pick up donations from Monsignor Clancy and St. Charles Schools, but the majority of it comes from the Kenny family. The CWL hosted a fundraising dinner at Club Belvedere” and used the proceeds to buy gender- and age-appropriate gifts for the families’ children, he added.
Last Saturday morning, grateful families came in to pick up their food and presents.
“One hundred per cent of all money donated goes to food,” said John Kenny, adding that anybody who would like to donate or volunteer next year can contact Rhonda at 905-227-4965.
