'It's amazing to see the small town looking after its people': $35,000 fresh food giveaway in St. Thomas

With ongoing inflation and a food crisis, one of the largest expenses facing families remains fresh food.

But in St. Thomas on Friday families in need got a break. A delivery of $35,000 of fresh food was available at no charge.

Hundreds, including St. Thomas resident Shaun, waited in a long line in the cold to take part.

“Well, a lot of items are hard to afford these days, and got to do what you gotta do to get by,” he said to a CTV News London camera.

The vast bins full of food were a welcome sight to Donna, a grandmother caring for her three grandchildren.

Donna cares for three of her grandchildren. She finds many fresh foods unaffordable. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)“The vegetable and the meat, I mean everything is expensive. I don't buy juice anymore. We drink water because it is very expensive.”

But at this event, the price is more than right.

The credit for food distribution lies within one family led by Jim Collins.

Five years ago, he created Harvest Hands in St. Thomas.

From humble beginnings, Harvest Hands now provides the equivalent of 90,000 meals a month to 275 agencies from Windsor to Oshawa.

The products, nearing expiry, are donated by retailers and farming groups. Collins credits hundreds of generous people who assist with its distribution.

“We're just so happy. And, as I can express on behalf of the volunteers, they're so happy to be able to do our part and in trying to make people's lives a little bit better.”

The food given away Friday represents retailer overstock at the end of the Christmas season.

Brandon and his mother Karen are among those who will benefit.

“Yeah, because I only work part-time at the moment. So, it is a bit of a struggle to get through paycheck to paycheck,”

Brandon can’t say enough about the efforts of those who give their time and resources.

But, at the same time, he is worried that food prices may never stabilize.

People lineup for the Harvest Hands fresh food giveaway, January 3, 2025. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)

“Inflation can just go away. That would be a start. Yeah, but honestly, I don't know how we can come back from this because it's we're in a rut. Who knows if we'll be able to get out of it? We need to start digging.”

Thankfully volunteers here are ‘digging’ to do what they can today.

And for many, that’s enough to brighten the start of a new year.

“St Thomas is a caring city to do this for all these people. I think it’s great!”, exclaimed one woman.

Donna added, “This is a small town. I came from the city. It's amazing to see the small town looking after its people. Not in the big city. They don't do that.”