Too much Halloween candy? The 519 Community Collective and the Cambridge Food Bank will take in any treats that are left over from the holiday.
Due to high winds or a lack of Halloween spirit, community members have taken to social media to say they're experiencing high amounts of leftover candy.
The 519 Community Collective will gladly take any extras that the community might have.
"Last year all the leftover candy saved us money all the way until February," says Julie Sawatzky, founder of the collective.
The main priority for the organization is to provide a healthy and full meal to either children, homeless encampments or those in need. Sawatzky adds that they rarely budget for treats, so anything they can get will add to their food hampers.
"When a child gets a sandwich, water bottle a fruit and then they can have a little chocolate bar or treat, it just completes it," she said.
The Cambridge Food Bank will also accept donations of Halloween candy, but prefer members of the community donate some of the items they need the most which includes peanut butter and sandwich spreads, canned fruits and vegetables, canned meat and fish, cereal, and school snacks
"While we have received Halloween candy in the past, we want to remind our community that our focus is on providing nutritious food options to those in need," says Jamie Berube, communications coordinator for the food bank to CambridgeToday. "These items help ensure that we are meeting some of the nutritional needs of our participants."
The 519 Community Collective and the Food Bank want to remind the community that if they are going to donate any leftover Halloween candy, that it must be unopened and properly labelled.
The candy will also go to the 519 Community Collective's food pantry and they will also hand some out to the seniors when they pay them a visit.
"People don't realize how big the need is," says Sawatzky. "It really goes far."
Donations to the food bank can be made in person at their Cambridge location at 54 Ainslie St. S. and on Thursdays and Sundays at the 519CC headquarters at 26 Ainslie St. S.
Residents can also coordinate with the collective at [email protected].
