Star power bulks up food banks

For the 25th year, the Holiday Train rolled through the Quinte region, supporting local food banks and entertaining thousands.

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The branding has changed from the Canadian Pacific Railway Holiday Train to the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Holiday Train.

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The band Anyway Gang performed Tuesday morning along Belleville’s waterfront, at the RCAF Road crossing in Trenton at 8 Wing (CFB Trenton), and east of the Prince Edward Street crossing in Brighton.

Anyway Gang is comprised of Chris Murphy of Sloan, Sam Roberts of the Sam Roberts Band, Menno Versteeg from Hollerado, and Dave Monks from Tokyo Police Club.

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Gleaners Food Bank, Trenton Care and Share Food Bank, and Brighton Fare Share Food Bank were the benefactors.

$7,000 was handed over by the rail line to Gleaners and $5,000 to each the Trenton and Brighton banks.

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Jen Koornneef is a Manager at Trenton Care and Share Food Bank.  She says they are thrilled with the support from donors and CPKC.

“We know it takes a lot of coordination and we have a very supportive community in Trenton.  We can’t say thank you enough for that.  We have experienced an increase (food bank usage), 44 per cent increase over the last year.”

Susanne Quinlan is the Director of Operations for Glenaers Food Bank and the Tri-County Warehouse.  She laid out a call to action in front of the thousands in attendance on the Belleville waterfront.

“We need volunteers because we served over 10,000 families last year and it is growing.  We need more people, so please come out.  Again great applause for CPKC.”

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Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis says this time of year it is vitally important to donate food, financially, or with sweat equity.

“The food bank has been at capacity for the last little while and it is about donations and getting awareness out. It needs help for more food on the shelves to get through the holiday season.”