“The items vary throughout the year; items that we are always in need of are canned fruit, canned fruit juice. People don’t think often of donating personal hygiene products so toothpaste, shampoo is something that we also need quite often,” said WCS’s Kelly Christie earlier in the week.

Locally, donations can be made at the Elmira Foodland and No Frills locations, as well as Foodland in St. Clements, with all food items dropped off at the three grocery stores heading straight to the local food bank. Excess reserves will then be given to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.

The top items most needed at the food bank include: condiments (ketchup, mayonnaise), canned fruit and juices, cookies and baking mixes, instant coffee, sugar, flour, shampoo, toothpaste and canned meats.

While many people are used to pitching in at Thanksgiving and Christmas, there’s a need to stock the larder at this time of year. The next food drive is for Thanksgiving hampers in the fall. The Elmira Kiwanis Club also hold an annual food drive for WCS Christmas goodwill program later in the year.