For the second year in a row the Cambridge Moms Facebook group has had to pause their sign up list for holiday food hampers due to the rise in people accessing their service.
The group is hosting its 7th annual Holiday Hamper program to help Cambridge moms in need.
"This is one of our favourite things of the year to do. It really shows how much the community can come together and help one another," said Melissa Francis, admin for the group.
Last year, the Facebook group also had to pause entries to the list as they were being overwhelmed with the need from the community. Despite having to shut down their list early on in the holilday season, the community came together and helped open it back up, allowing them to serve 167 families.
As food prices and the cost of living have continued to climb, more people in the community are having to rely on services like the Cambridge Food Bank, community kitchens and food hamper programs like this one.
Another issue Francis and her team are finding is that there haven't been as many donations up to this point, limiting how many people they can add to the list.
"We've never turned a mom away, and we don't plan on starting now," she said. "It's not even December yet and we're already over 80 moms on the list."
The Facebook group has been reaching out to local organizations and companies to help support them and their efforts to feed local families.
One of their partners is a local Zehrs that will help provide them with storage and discounted food. They also received help from a local Penske Trunk Rental, that provided them with a truck and three volunteers to help pick up and distribute food.
As a real estate agent, Francis sees people from all walks of live and gets to hear their stories, noting that this year is particularly hard for families in the region.
"It's really tough seeing families through my work and then in the Facebook group struggling, especially during the holiday season," she added. "The group has shown me that there are so many good people in this city who really want the best for everyone."
The group is looking for cash donations to make it easier to shop for food or non-perishable food items.
Donations can be made to Francis and her team by contacting her by phone at 519-590-5411, in the Cambridge Mom's group or by email at [email protected].
