Grab a bite to eat and support families in need at an annual barbecue.
On Friday, June 14, the North Eastern Ontario Family and Children's Services (NEOFACS) and the Foster Families Association Ontario North-East (FFAONE) are teaming up with the Timmins Fire Department and Timmins Food Bank for the annual Community Food Drive and BBQ Fundraiser. It runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Johnson's Your Independent Grocer.
People are encouraged to stop by with donations of non-perishable food items, cleaning supplies and personal hygiene items to help fill the shelves at the food bank. Hot dogs, hamburgers and beverages will be available to buy.
The event also focuses on the There to Care campaign, a provincial initiative with the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies sharing the vital role of foster families.
In the Timmins area, when children cannot stay with their primary caregivers or kin, NEOFACS is one of the organizations responsible for finding them temporary homes.
Since 2020, the organization says there has been a provincial drop of 33.6 per cent in available foster homes.
“Fostering is about more than the children and youth you provide a temporary home to. It’s also about facilitating connections and reunification with families and communities, and ensuring children and youth stay connected to their culture and identity. It’s about providing real, tangible support to your community,” said Cléo Charlebois, NEOFACS executive director, in a news release.
For more information on how to be a foster family, call NEOFACS at 705-360-710 ext. 5222 or email [email protected].
