Giving Tuesday, a global giving movement, will be focusing on one organization in the Timmins area on Tuesday, November 27th.

The South Porcupine Food Bank will be accepting donations on Giving Tuesday, a worldwide event driven by individuals, charities, businesses and communities across Canada and in countries around the world. Taking place just after Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping days, Giving Tuesday gives shoppers and residents a chance to show their generosity in their local community.

Mickey Auger, President of the South Porcupine Food Bank, says the day is all about helping those in need.

“It helps people,” Auger said, “make donations to food banks across the country for the homeless and the people that don’t have [the ability] to go out and get food.”

Auger is hoping for a big turnout at the Giving Tuesday Event, taking place at the South Porcupine Mall on Tuesday,  November 27th. There will be a van parked outside the mall from 10 AM to 4 PM with hopes that donations will “Fill the Van” with donated food and items. Residents can also add food items to the bin at Food Basics.

After the donation van leaves Porcupine Mall that afternoon, there will be an Open House at the South Porcupine Food Bank at 32 Main Street in South Porcupine, from 4-8 PM. Monetary donations will be accepted, and there will be Stocking Stuffers offered for $20 each, with proceeds from that purchase going towards the purchase of Christmas turkeys for needy families. The Open House kicks off the $20,000 Giving Tuesday Campaign, which organizers hope to raise by Dec. 31st.

Auger says the number of clients at the food bank has gone up since last year. With new information on the number of homeless people in the city, and the lack of resources for those suffering mental health issues, Auger says the local food bank is doing what it can and those that can help should do the same.

“There’s 700 homeless people out there,” Auger said, “so they need food, they gotta eat, right? So you gotta try and do what you can.”

Giving back to the community and helping those who need it has always been important to Auger, who was recently elected as City Councillor for Ward 2 in the municipal election.

“It’s important to help your fellow mankind. Because not everybody is well off, has a job. Some people lost jobs or [have] mental illness. Or some people go through a very tough situation in life that nobody knows.”

 

The Giving Tuesday event will be run by volunteers and Auger says it will give people a chance to see what the volunteers can do and showcase how essential they are to the organization.

“Volunteer work is the most important thing in the community,” Auger said, “because by going out as a group and doing stuff, you’re making the community better and the people better. And that’s all you can ask for.”

Auger hopes the fundraisers can help make Christmas a more joyful time for those less fortunate.

“You gotta try and make a difference to people who are down and out. And hopefully, if you can make some people have a nice Christmas by what you’re doing, it’s worthwhile. When you see a smile on a child’s face, you’re doing your job and you’re doing a good thing.”

Auger welcomes anyone to come contribute or take part in the South Porcupine Food Bank drive for Giving Tuesday on Nov. 27th from 10 AM to 4 PM outside the Porcupine Mall. And he also encourages the public to come to the Holiday Donation Event at the South Porcupine Food Bank’s Open House on Nov. 27th from 4-8 PM.

Giving Tuesday takes place all across Canada on November 27th.

To learn more about Giving Tuesday, visit the website here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed under: Local News