The ” Walk for Food ” campaign in late September generated $ 345,000 for Owen Sound Hunger and Relief Effort…better known as OSHARE.
Walk organizer Jeff Robins and OSHARE Executive Director Colleen Trask-Seaman were guests on the CFOS Morning Show with the Great Paul Hill and related how the weather that day had zero impact on the fundraiser.
The money will go to buying supplies for OSHaRE which provides thousands of meals to those in need.
Robins says, “We had about 80 walkers and that was the highest total we’ve had so far.”
Trask-Seaman explains, “All our money stays in the community and it goes to help our operations through the year. OSHaRE has seen a dramatic increase since the pandemic started.”
OSHaRE, which is a soup kitchen in downtown Owen Sound, has served over 135 thousand meals since the pandemic started.
“This money really helps us to meet that increased need,” says Trask-Seaman who adds, “That’s a huge jump. In 2019, we served 22,000 meals in a whole year.”
Trask-Seaman says those who would like to donate can do so online at oshare.ca, in person at the office in Owen Sound, or you can drop a donation into OSHaRE’s secure mailbox at the front of the building at 946 3rd Avenue East.
Meanwhile, Robins says this was the fifth year the walk has been held, noting, “First year we brought in $25,000 for OSHaRE. We walked with Aveda Walk For Water as well in that year. Year two, we brought in $40,000. Year three, we brought in $80,000. Year four, we brought in $200,000. This past year, $345,000. Unbelievable situation when you think of it. It’s the people that help us,” says Robins.
The 2022 ” Walk for Food ” is scheduled for September 23rd.