LAURIE WEIR

The RCL Automotive Build a Mountain of Food campaign has once again shown the resilience and generosity of local communities, collecting an impressive 180,763 pounds of food and $323,281 in cash donations during its six-week run.

With the support of local businesses, the campaign provided vital resources to 11 food banks across Lanark and Leeds–Grenville counties, ensuring families in need could weather the tough winter months.

“This year was a remarkable success,” said Jim Wright, a key organizer of the campaign. “Despite rising food prices and economic challenges, our communities showed up in a big way, donating more cash than ever before.”

Final numbers

The campaign, which began in early November, made weekly stops at various towns to collect food and cash donations. Here’s how the totals broke down:

• Week 1 (Almonte and Carleton Place): 39,775 pounds of food and $37,820 donated to The Hunger Stop.
• Week 2 (Perth and Lanark): Perth collected 91,932 pounds of food and $67,924 for the Perth Good Food Bank, while Lanark contributed 600 pounds of food and $16,615 to the Lanark Highlands Food Pantry.
• Week 3 (Smiths Falls): 37,465 pounds of food and $123,925.75 raised for the Smiths Falls and District Community Food Bank.
• Week 4 (Westport and Elgin): Westport donated 2,200 pounds and $19,855 to its food bank, while Elgin raised 1,440 pounds of food and $10,850 for theirs.
• Week 5 (Portland and Merrickville): Portland collected 2,100 pounds and $31,945 for the Portland Food Bank, while Merrickville added 1,100 pounds and $2,500 for the Lions Club Christmas Hamper program.
• Week 6 (Athens and Delta): Athens contributed 2,205 pounds of food and $6,740, while Delta raised 1,946 pounds and $6,100 for their respective food banks.

Growing need for support

While the campaign’s success is undeniable, food bank usage continues to rise.

“Food bank visits have doubled in some areas,” said Chris Craig, owner of RCL Automotive and the campaign’s title sponsor. “Rising food costs mean more families are struggling to make ends meet, and food banks are being hit from both sides—they’re helping more people but paying higher prices for food themselves.”

In Smiths Falls, Natalia Soteroff, executive director of the Smiths Falls Community Food Bank, said that while the final numbers were slightly down compared to previous years, the turnout remained remarkable thanks to the hard work of volunteers, generous donors, and community support.

“Still an amazing turnout,” Soteroff said. “We have incredible volunteers and extremely generous donors. The help from all the stores and Hinton Auto Group has been fantastic.”

Over the past year, the Smiths Falls food bank saw a slower increase in client numbers, marking a slight decline in growth compared to previous years. However, demand remains high, with an average of about 950 clients served each month. January and August continue to be the busiest months, with client numbers peaking at nearly 1,100.

Soteroff emphasized the ongoing need for volunteer support, particularly someone with a pickup truck who can assist in picking up orders such as bread and meat.

“We need someone available in the mornings who can lift up to 50 pounds,” she said.

The food bank’s wish list includes gluten-free items, diapers, wipes, and toiletries such as shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. The need for pet food has also increased, as a previous provider of cat and dog food is no longer available.

Donations from the Build a Mountain campaign are expected to last through February, Soteroff said. However, staples like milk, meat, eggs, and school snacks must still be purchased weekly, as they are not often donated. She stressed the importance of year-round donations, especially during the summer, when contributions typically decline.

“Despite the challenges, we’re so grateful for all the amazing donors and supporters we have,” she said. “I’m blessed to have such incredibly dedicated volunteers. And the support from the stores is amazing.”

Wright noted that some food banks reported a fivefold increase in usage compared to five years ago. Tammy Parent, of The Hunger Stop in Carleton Place, shared that her facility now spends upwards of $40,000 a month to keep shelves stocked—an expense that many food banks fear they cannot sustain.

Overcoming challenges

Despite the growing need, the campaign continues to thrive thanks to the dedication of volunteers, community members, and local businesses.

Craig praised the ongoing support from donors, including Will’s Transfer and the Hinton Auto Group, which has pledged significant contributions over the years.

“Hinton’s donated $50,000 annually for the past four years, and they continue to step up whenever we need them,” Craig said.

This year also saw new faces join the campaign, including several new grocery store owners who embraced the initiative.

“When new store owners come in, you never know how they’ll respond,” Wright said. “But we’ve been incredibly lucky—every one of them has picked up the ball and run with it.”

The road ahead

While the donations collected will help food banks make it through part of the winter, the need remains urgent.

“These contributions typically last until the end of January or early February,” Wright explained. “After that, shelves start to empty again, and the struggle continues.”

Still, campaign organizers remain optimistic.

“Every year, we think this might be the year we fall short, but the community always proves us wrong,” Craig said. “We’ll keep doing this as long as we’re needed.”

Wright added: “This is one of those things we wish we didn’t have to do.”

For those interested in supporting local food banks, donations of non-perishable food items or cash can be made directly to the food banks in each community. Every bit helps ensure no family goes hungry.

“Everyone is struggling,” Wright said. “The costs of goods keep rising, and food banks are doing all they can to keep up with the demand.”