The Niagara Lions Club is hosting its annual food drive for the Newark Neighbours food bank on Saturday, April 16, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Goods and donations will be collected at the two Independent Grocer stores in Niagara-on-the-Lake – Hendrik’s on Queen Street and at Phil’s in Virgil.

Both financial and non-perishable food contributions will gladly be accepted.

Any cash donations will be used to buy additional food to stock Newark Neighbours’ cupboards.

Catharine Wickabrod, past-president and current secretary for the Niagara Lions, said the organization has been hosting food drives for Newark Neighbours for more than 25 years.

“Due to COVID-19 we were unable to host the annual food collection,” she told The Lake Report.

“However, we were still able to purchase food to fill their cupboards. We are grateful that we have established such a good relationship with Newark Neighbours and they know they can count on the Niagara Lions when in need.”

“Hosting the food drive helps raise awareness to the critical problem of hunger within our community and with serious challenges in both high- and low-income homes hunger knows no borders.”

There is a long list of items the food bank at Newark requires, including: canned salmon, flakes of ham, chicken or turkey, canned chili or spaghetti or ravioli, canned beef stew, Habitant or chunky soups (beef or chicken), canned red kidney beans, canned ham, corned beef or Spam, canned tomatoes/tomato sauce, canned mixed vegetables, rice, mac and cheese, Sidekicks and Mr. Noodle packets, soda crackers for soup, peanut butter, oatmeal, any kind of cereal, granola bars, canned baked beans, Jell-O (any flavour), jams, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, green relish, sugar, flour and baking ingredients, coffee or tea, shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste, paper towels and toilet paper.