Volunteers get food to the table for Thanksgiving

As many of us are preparing our kitchens and appetites for this Thanksgiving weekend, there’s a special harvest taking place in Hamilton.

The food collected at the Hamilton Victory Gardens will go toward providing local food banks with fresh produce for their hot meal programs.

We spoke with some of the volunteers who are helping the project grow.

With baskets of strawberries in hand, these grade 8 students are planting next spring’s crop.

Mohamed Dumbui and Mohamed Essa, grade 8 students: “It’s good to know that we’re helping the world out.”

While just a couple beds down, Tammy from the YWCA is gathering tomatoes.

Those who keep Hamilton Victory Gardens a success come from all over the city and beyond.

“We’ve had groups that have come as far away as Spain.”

Volunteers as diverse as the yield.

Bill Wilcox, Victory Gardens founder: “We grow the typical carrots, beets, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage.”

Then, everything these hands are picking will go toward hot meal programs at local food banks. Founder Bill Wilcox says he’s told a third of a pound harvested represents one meal: “So if we’ve got 45-thousand pounds that would be about 135-thousand meals.”

The name comes from rationing in WWII where citizens were encouraged to plant victory gardens to grow their own fruits and vegetables. Wilcox says the idea behind Hamilton Victory Gardens is to help fight the war on hunger.”

Alan Whittle, Good Shepherd Centre: “They raise some great quality fresh vegetables for us. We’re able to incorporate those into not only our food programs but also our emergency food programs.”

As part of its programming, the Good Shepherd helps provide meals for some of Hamilton’s schools, and student Natalie Rodgers is volunteering as Thanksgiving dinner is distributed to over 100 students at alternative education centre Wilma’s Place.

Natalie Rodgers, volunteer student: “I’m willing to do more than anything just to help out my staff. They’ve helped me out more than enough. “Does it feel good to give back?” It feels great. Honestly. It really does.”

Rodgers’ fellow students appreciate the effort.

Travis MacDonald, student: “It’s good cooking and good food and it really means a lot that somewhere in this city someone actually does that for the younger generation.”

And as Hamilton Victory Gardens’ continues to grow, so too will the number of people they’re able to help feed.

On Monday, the Good Shepherd will have their annual community Thanksgiving dinner for those in need in Hamilton. Alan Whittle of Good Shepherd says he expects about 400 people to attend. And some of the fresh vegetables served will be provided by Hamilton Victory Gardens.